News Menu, June 18: Israel-Iran conflict rages on; PM in Croatia after G7 Summit
Good morning. On June 17-18, 1858, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi died fighting British forces in the Battle of Gwalior during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, her heroic sacrifice inspiring India's quest for freedom.In her memory, India Today presents a news menu weaving global crises, diplomatic endeavors, and domestic developments, reflecting a nation's resilience amid adversity.Middle-East Crisis: Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Dayadvertisement
Israel lifts air raid warnings, claiming to have intercepted most Iranian missiles, while Iran announces a new wave of attacks. Donald Trump, asserting 'complete control over Iran's skies,' rules out killing Iran's Supreme Leader for now, urging Tehran to abandon nuclear ambitions. Evidence continues to point at the United States' imminent participation in Israel's bombing campaign. Quick Take: Trump's rhetoric escalates tensions while offering a pause on extreme measures. Iran's resilience is being tested with its allies like Syria pushed out of the battle zone. Will it surrender to Trump's diktat or carry on despite mounting risks to its existence?India Ramps Up Evacuation Amid Iran-Israel EscalationIndia intensified efforts to evacuate citizens as the Iran-Israel conflict worsens, with 110 students reaching Armenia for repatriation soon. The MEA coordinates with Israel's ambassador to ensure safety amid heightened security concerns.advertisementPM Modi's Three-Nation Tour Concludes in CroatiaThe Prime Minister visits Croatia on Wednesday, the first Indian PM to do so, concluding his G7 tour, after a brief visit to Cyprus. The visit aims to bolster India-Croatia ties amid global tensions. The historic Croatia visit enhances India's Balkan outreach.Ahmedabad Plane Crash: DNA Testing Nears CompletionDNA matching for Air India Flight AI-171 victims continues, with 167 matches completed, and 133 bodies released by Tuesday. Experts expect one to two more days, as the high-level committee probe advances.Weather: Rain Brings ReliefDelhi will enjoy pleasant weather with light to moderate rain until Thursday, under a yellow alert. Heavy rain alerts for South Gujarat, Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar, providing heat wave respite.INS Arnala Commissioned: Maritime MilestoneIndia commissions INS Arnala, its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, on Wednesday, marking self-reliance in maritime defense. The ship bolsters coastal protection against submarine threats.Karnataka: Congress Leader Targets Own PartyChief Minister's son Yathindra Siddaramaiah criticises Congress for delaying Karnataka's caste survey report, denying justice to backward classes. He blames internal resistance and dismisses objections as politically motivated. Internal Congress rifts weaken its Karnataka narrative. The caste survey delay risks alienating key voters. Yathindra's outspokenness may spark leadership debates.advertisementTelangana: BRS-Congress Clash Over Phone TappingThe BRS-Congress feud intensifies over alleged phone tapping during the BRS regime. KTR plans legal action against PCC president, while CM Revanth and YS Sharmila escalate accusations.DMK vs. Centre: Keeladi Excavation DisputeCM Stalin accused the Centre of suppressing Keeladi excavation data, claiming challenges to Tamil identity. DMK's student wing plans protests in Madurai, while the Centre alleges DMK politicization. The dispute highlights Centre-state cultural tensions. DMK's protests leverage Tamil pride for political gain. Resolution hinges on transparent archaeological collaboration.Parting Bite'I will not give up my Jhansi!' declared Rani Lakshmibai in 1857, her defiance echoing through India's trials today. India Today presents Rani Lakhmibai's final stand, leading to her martyrdom in a special story.
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Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Trump's ‘Two Weeks' Pause on Iran Strikes Comes With High Stakes
President Donald Trump often suggests that something will happen in 'two weeks' when he's looking to buy himself some time. But his latest two-weeks declaration — on possible US military strikes in Iran — comes with unusually high stakes. The pause, after days of bellicose rhetoric and social posts about evacuating Tehran, rattled markets in the region, triggered new threats from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, led Iranian officials to call the US Israel's 'partner in crime' and left Israel in a holding pattern. Because by now the world knows that Trump's 'two weeks' could mean two days, two months or never, his delay this time only fed the uncertainty. Regional equities slid on Friday, despite a sustained surge in oil prices that would typically support sentiment in Gulf economies. Israel — a US ally with particularly close ties to Trump — has been placed in a holding pattern. It launched its attacks arguing that Iran's nuclear capabilities must be neutralized. But experts say it will be hard for Israel to destroy Iran's most fortified uranium enrichment facility, the Fordow plant, without the bunker-busting bombs only the US has. The US military launched several long-range stealth B-2 bombers — the kind that could carry the 30,000-pound bombs — from Missouri over the Pacific, according to media reports, possibly positioning them in case of a strike. The Wall Street Journal cited officials saying that no order has been given to ready an operation. 'For the Israelis it does put them in a bind,' said Illan Goldenberg, a former White House and Pentagon official who worked on Iran issues. 'They'd prefer this not go on for weeks and months.' 'My guess is they have some kind of option for Fordow, but it's not as good as our option for Fordow,' said Goldenberg, a senior vice president at J Street, a liberal Israel lobbying group focused on creating a two-state solution. The Israelis 'put themselves in this limbo by launching a war and putting their faith in Donald Trump to come and finish the job.' Israeli officials told the White House in what was described as a tense phone call on Thursday that two weeks is too long to wait for Iran to reach a deal to dismantle its nuclear program, Reuters reported Saturday. Iran, meanwhile, could seek to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20% of global crude flows. Even without a direct move by Tehran, nearly 1,000 vessels daily have reported GPS jamming near the narrow passage separating Iran from its Arab neighbors, according to the French naval liaison body MICA Center. The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia in Yemen, threatened on Saturday to target US vessels and battleships if the US joins Israeli attacks. The conflict started June 13 when Israel, saying it had evidence that Iran was close to achieving nuclear weapons capability, launched a series of missile attacks on Iran, which has returned missile attacks. Keeping the world guessing Trump for years has had a penchant for setting two-week deadlines, sometimes following through and at other times missing them or never acting at all, making 'within two weeks' a stock phrase for pending decisions in both his White House terms. On Friday, Trump kept the world guessing on his next steps. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, he called himself a 'peacemaker' and dismissed the idea of sending in ground troops. He both suggested he wanted a diplomatic path and said he might support a ceasefire, but also kept a military threat alive, describing the two-week time frame as a maximum. 'I'm giving them a period of time,' he declared. Israel has pressed Trump to offer support, but in return Trump has only offered a run of tough commentary. European diplomats have stepped in to try to de-escalate tensions by talking to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi with little to show for it but a dismissive remark from Trump. Trump won the presidency twice promising not to get the US involved in the kinds of intractable Middle East wars he savaged his predecessors over. His most fervent MAGA supporters have been urging him publicly and privately to avoid military action in keeping with his 'America First' position. Since Israel's assault on Iran started, Israelis have faced hundreds of ballistic missiles and 1,000 drone attacks launched by Tehran. Iran has lost a slew of military officials, with more than 400 people dead and several nuclear facilities and related infrastructure destroyed or damaged. Israel, which has been waging a military campaign in Gaza since Hamas militants attacked the country on Oct. 7, 2023, may struggle to sustain a war against Tehran. The US is already working to replenish Israel's defenses as they deplete their stock of interceptors. And Israeli officials say Trump's pause means the war will last even longer. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the Jewish state will 'achieve all of our objectives,' including rendering Fordow inoperable. Trump cited hopes for negotiations as part of his aim for the 'two-week' pause. But Iranians refuse to negotiate with the US while an Israeli assault continues, and the talks with European leaders appeared to make little progress. Trump expressed skepticism about those efforts Friday, saying: 'Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help them.' Yet Iran refuses to talk to the US while the Israeli assault continues. Peter Krause, a Boston College professor who specializes in Middle Eastern politics, argued that if Trump is doing 'coercive diplomacy' with Iran, then his 'hand is strengthened' the more damage Israelis do to Iran. Krause said the next two weeks will likely see a 'ramping up with more of the same militarily, but simultaneously, attempted diplomacy led by the Europeans and maybe the United States and the Turks to see if we can get an off-ramp before things get worse.' Trump has also long hurled ultimatums at opponents that he often quickly reverses as he pushes them to make concessions — as the world saw with his tariffs regime in the spring — demanding exorbitant tariffs only to back off once the trading partner arrived at the negotiating table. But taking that approach here may not work. The latest signals from the White House suggest a demand for zero uranium enrichment in Iran, a condition Tehran sees as fundamentally unacceptable. Iranian officials maintain they have no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons, but argue that some level of enrichment, under clear restrictions and oversight, is a sovereign right. Stripping that away, they contend, would amount to capitulation rather than compromise. With assistance from Ethan Bronner. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Trump says he deserves Nobel Peace Prize for global diplomacy, including India and Pakistan efforts
Washington, DC [US], June 22 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts in resolving various global conflicts, including a cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters after landing in New Jersey, Trump mentioned several instances where, in his view, his actions merited the prestigious award. 'They should give me the Nobel Prize for Rwanda, and if you look at Congo, or you could say Serbia, Kosovo, you could say a lot of them. I mean, the big one is India and Pakistan,' he said. 'I should have gotten it four or five times. I would think the Abraham Accords would be a good one too. But they won't give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals,' he added. Trump also highlighted his efforts with India and Pakistan, stating, 'We did a very great job with India and Pakistan. And we had India in. It looks like we're going to be making a great deal with India and Pakistan.' When asked about the reports of planes landing in Iran from China, Trump responded, 'They say that they're there to take people out. But I can't tell you about that.' He also commented on his rapport with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying, 'I get along very well with China. I get along very well with President Xi. I like him. He likes me. We have a very good relationship. I can't imagine them getting involved.' Since the start of the Israel-Iran war on June 12, several Internet users have been claiming that China is secretly supporting Iran militarily, based on images from Flightradar24 (a website that tracks real-time aircraft movements), France 24 reported. On Monday, a pro-Iranian account on X called SilencedSirs claimed that 'two giant cargo planes flying from China to Iran turned off their tracking signals before entering Iranian airspace'. According to SilencedSirs, the proof is two-fold: a video shared in a post viewed over six million times made by a supposed media outlet called Prime Scope, and a screenshot of an aircraft's route tracked by Flightradar24, purporting to show one of the planes in Iranian airspace. According to France 254, since Friday, many Internet users have also been sharing other Flightradar24 images purporting to show several flights from China entering Iran. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
KTR showcases Telangana's transformative journey at Oxford India Forum in UK
London [United Kingdom], June 21 (ANI): Former Minister and BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) delivered a powerful and inspiring talk at the prestigious Oxford India Forum held at Oxford University, highlighting Telangana's exceptional growth story since its formation. Speaking on the theme 'Governing Innovation - A Telangana Case Study', KTR articulated how India's youngest state has emerged as a beacon of inclusive development, resilience, and economic transformation. In his address, KTR emphasised that Telangana was not created by chance but was the result of decades of peaceful democratic struggle. He referred to it as 'the most successful startup state of independent India' and proudly stated that Telangana has shown not only promise but also consistent delivery of development goals across sectors. He underscored that the formation of the state in 2014 was the culmination of decades of aspiration, and in just a short span, it has transformed into a model state admired across India and globally. KTR highlighted the impressive economic indicators that back Telangana's growth story. The state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has grown from Rs 4 lakh crore to Rs 15 lakh crore, and its per capita income has surged from Rs 1.12 lakh to Rs 3.57 lakh. Telangana has risen from the 12th position in the national economic rankings to among the top in multiple sectors, including agriculture, industry, and technology. However, KTR noted that Telangana's story goes beyond numbers and it is a tale of restoring dignity, empowering citizens, and building a resilient society. He illustrated how bold and innovative decisions led to revolutionary transformations. He pointed to landmark achievements such as the Kaleshwaram Project, the world's largest lift irrigation project, which was completed in a record four years and has dramatically transformed the irrigation landscape, contributing to Telangana becoming the number one state in inland fisheries. He noted that Telangana has provided safe drinking water to all one crore households and eradicated fluorosis. KTR also spoke of the immense strides Telangana has made in attracting global investments. Hyderabad, the state capital, is now home to the world's largest campuses of Amazon and other top global tech companies. The state also houses the world's largest innovation campus, T-Hub, which fosters thousands of startups. Telangana is also a global pharmaceutical hub, producing one-third of the world's vaccines. KTR stressed the importance of legislative reforms such as the TS-iPASS, which guarantees industrial clearances within 15 days or grants automatic approvals, making Telangana the top state in India in the ease of doing business rankings by NITI Aayog. He attributed the state's success to shifting from personality-based governance to process-driven, institutionalised systems that ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability. Speaking of agriculture, he highlighted the landmark initiative of directly depositing $9 billion into the accounts of 70 lakh farmers under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, the largest of its kind in the world. He described this as a conscious choice to empower farmers with financial autonomy, leading to a phenomenal rise in agricultural output, including a jump in paddy production from 68 lakh metric tons to 3 crore tons in under a decade. During the fireside chat that followed, KTR responded to questions about his personal journey and political choices. He recounted how he left a promising career in the US to support the Telangana statehood movement led by KCR. He admitted that while politics is a challenging and often thankless field, it offers the unmatched reward of affecting meaningful change in people's lives. On the question of replicating Telangana's success in other Indian states, KTR identified two crucial elements: visionary leadership with a clear sense of purpose, and a strong institutional framework that encourages cooperative federalism. He stressed the need for a 'big brother' role from the Union Government in helping states complement each other's strengths rather than compete destructively. KTR also addressed the contentious issue of redistricting and regional disparities in India. He argued that basing the redrawing of Lok Sabha boundaries solely on population would unfairly penalise southern states like Telangana that have effectively implemented population control measures. Instead, he advocated for a GDP-based formula to reward high-performing states and ensure equitable representation in Parliament. When asked about the future priorities if he were to serve as Chief Minister, KTR asserted that economic growth would be his foremost focus. He emphasised the need to continue attracting investments, creating jobs, and expanding the state's economic base while also ensuring welfare measures for vulnerable sections of society. He advocated for a balanced approach that combines growth with compassion, economic expansion paired with inclusive development in health, education, and social welfare. KTR also addressed the question of women's participation in politics. He welcomed the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill and said the mandated one-third reservation would be a game-changer. However, he expressed hope that the country could aim even higher. Acknowledging that women often bring more focus and discipline to leadership roles, he predicted that their increasing participation in politics would significantly accelerate India's progress. At this global forum, KTR reiterated that he was not in Oxford to make a pitch, but to build partnerships. He said Telangana's journey is not just a geographic transformation but a blueprint for hope and aspiration that others could emulate. He invited institutions like Oxford to join hands with Telangana in scripting the next chapter of innovation and inclusive growth. KTR added, 'India is the future, and Telangana will continue to tell its story. This is not just a presentation; it's a promise. We authored a new chapter of Indian democracy, and we are ready to compete with the best in the world.' (ANI)
