June 21, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Nepal Bomb Blast
At least seven people, including a member of Parliament, were killed and over 20 injured in five bomb explosions which rocked the Nepalese capital. The bombs went off at the west and south gates of King Birendra's palace, in the lobby of the Parliament building and the central secretariat and a five star hotel, Annapoorna, partly owned by the royal family.
The first batch of Mirage-2000, the multi role French fighter aircraft that has been acquired by the Indian Air Force, will be flown to India by IAF pilots who have completed flying training in France. India has purchased 40 of these versatile fighter jets under a contract signed in 1983 but the exact number of planes that will constitute the first batch is not known. Some reports have indicated that the batch would consist of five to 10 planes.
Shiite Muslim leader Nabih Bern said that he accepted an offer from Switzerland to use its territory to hold any exchange of US hostages seized aboard a hijacked plane for Lebanese prisoners held by Israel. Bern's remarks came after his office said Pope John Paul II had joined diplomatic efforts to resolve the ordeal of 40 American hostages seized aboard the plane.
The UN Security Council has issued a 'strong warning' to South Africa that failure to co-operate in speeding up the independence of Namibia could force the world body to adopt punitive measures under the UN charter, including mandatory sanctions. Only Britain and the United States abstained as the council voted 13 to nil for a non-aligned resolution which, among other things, condemned the racist regime in Pretoria for its installation of a so-called interim government in Namibia.
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The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Big-name porn sites back online in France after age check row
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NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Why Israel Struck Hezbollah In Lebanon Again Amid Conflict With Iran
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India.com
4 hours ago
- India.com
Iran-Israel war:
Iran-Israel war: "Tehran wants to speak to us, not Europe," says Donald Trump Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed a European diplomatic initiative aimed at de-escalating the conflict between Israel and Iran, asserting that Tehran prefers direct talks with Washington instead of engaging with European powers, CNN reported. 'Iran didn't want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us,' Trump told reporters. This statement shows he is sceptical regarding Europe's ability to mediate in the conflict. 'Israel is doing well in terms of war, and I think you would have to say Iran is doing less well. It's a little hard to get someone to stop,' he said. The Iran-Israel conflict entered the eighth day, with both sides launching missile attacks against each other. British, French, and German foreign ministers met with Iranian officials in Geneva for three hours. The discussions yielded no significant progress, although European ministers emphasised the need for ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict and prevent further regional instability. Despite stepping back earlier from threats of a US military strike and creating a two-week window for negotiations, Trump reiterated his intention to act as a 'peacemaker.'However, he maintained that only direct talks between the US and Iran could lead to a resolution. 'Europe is not going to be able to help,' he said. European officials encouraged Iran to return to nuclear negotiations with the US, but Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, refused, saying diplomacy would only resume 'once the aggressor was held accountable for the crimes committed,' CNN Friday, Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting several Israeli cities, including Haifa and Beersheba. Earlier in the day, a missile damaged multiple buildings in Beersheba, including a medical center that had already been largely evacuated. Later, one of about 35 missiles struck an abandoned building in downtown Haifa, causing heavy damage to nearby structures, including a response to the Iranian attacks, Israel announced that it had carried out retaliatory strikes on missile factories and a research facility linked to Iran's nuclear program, further escalating the hostilities. President Trump expressed hesitation about urging Israel to cease its military action against Iran, citing the current military successes. He indicated that intervening would be more difficult given Israel's apparent progress, although the US remains engaged in diplomatic talks with Iran and is prepared to act as needed. (with ANI inputs)
