Latest news with #Fabian
India Gazette
16 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Trump's description of Iran as most dangerous regime absolutely wrong": Former diplomat Fabian
New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): Former Diplomat KP Fabian said that it is not accurate to describe Iran as a dangerous regime as it has over the past over two decades not attacked anyone. Fabian's remarks come in the wake of the US and Israel's strikes on three nuclear strikes in Iran. 'Well, let me ask the question, which is the most dangerous regime? Is it Netanyahu or Iran? Netanyahu has started this aggression. And Israel has carried out so many wars. Whom did Iran attack in the last 20 years? Nobody. So Trump's description of Iran as the most dangerous regime is absolutely wrong. In fact, it's America who has been attacking' Fabian told ANI. Noting that it was America who attacked Iraq and Afghanistan, Fabian said, 'Trump's words have to be taken with a slight pinch of salt.' Regading the Sunday morning strikes on Fordow, Nutanz and Isfahan- facilities in Iran, Fabian said, 'This was to be expected... When Trump said within two weeks, most people misunderstood that he would give two weeks for Europeans and others to find a diplomatic way out. No, Trump was trying to mislead. He did it two days time. Except that if we follow the correct usage of the phrase within two weeks, that is the upper limit. So I can say, let's meet within two weeks. And then still I can propose I can meet you two days later.' Speaking on the issue of regime change in Iran, Fabian noted, 'I doubt it because there's a lot of confused talk about regime change. What we have to do is to make a distinction between regime change and regime collapse. There can be a regime collapse, but that is followed by anarchy and civil war. If you are thinking of a regime change, that happened in 2003 in Iraq. American boats were on the ground. Saddam Hussein fell and then they put up a set of Iraqis of their choice. That is regime change. Now, I am of the view that Israeli and American troops will not be on the ground in Iran. That will be absolutely suicidal because the casualties will be very high and Trump will not have it. In other words, popular support for Ayatollah Khamenei, Is it going down or is it increasing? Well, reports suggest that though many Iranians were rebelling against Ayatollah Khamenei, now they have gathered around him, but that's what happens in every country. When there is an external enemy, the people rally around the government. So I don't expect either regime collapse and therefore nor any regime change.' Trump announced on Sunday that US had conducted 'massive precision strikes' on the nuclear sites in Iran. In his remarks after the strike, the US President warned Iran of retaliation if peace is not achieved soon. The underground site at Fordow and the larger Natanz plant were Iran's two primary uranium enrichment facilities, out of which Natanz had already been hit by Israel with smaller weapons earlier in the week, the New York Times reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that history will record the US President who 'acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime, the world's most dangerous weapons.' Iran in a statement acknowledged that the sites had been hit and called it 'savage aggression--an act in violation of international laws', stressing particularly on the NPT. It alleged 'indifference and complicity' by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of indifference and complicity and said that it expects the international community to condemn these actions. The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its ninth day on Saturday, with the US now joining in support of Israel. The conflict started after Israel, on June 13, launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, dubbed 'Operation Rising Lion.' In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a large-scale drone and missile operation, 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
IDF on Israel-Iran conflict: October 7 mastermind, IRGC commander liquidated from deep inside Iran
Overnight, an Israeli airstrike in Iran killed Saeed Izadi, the head of the Palestine Corps in the IRGC Quds Force, who funded and armed Hamas ahead of the terror group's October 7 onslaught as part of a multi-front plan to destroy Israel. Fabian describes who he was and how central he was in drafting Iran's ultimate strategy to eliminate Israel. Show more Show less
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Lou Christie, singer-songwriter who hit No. 1 with ‘Lightnin' Strikes,' dies at 82
Lou Christie, the singer and songwriter who set teen fans screaming in the 1960s with hits like 'Lightnin' Strikes' and 'Two Faces Have I,' has died. He was 82. Christie died at his home in Pittsburgh after a short illness, his family said Wednesday in an announcement on social media. 'He was cherished not only by his family and close friends, but also by countless fans whose lives he touched with his kindness and generosity, artistic and musical talent, humor and spirit. His absence leaves a profound void in all our hearts. He will be greatly missed, always remembered, and forever loved,' the statement read. Christie was born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on Feb. 19, 1943, in Glenwillard, Pa., and took on his stage name, courtesy of a local music producer, when he was a still a teen. Soon he would meet his decades-older songwriting collaborator Twyla Herbert, a classically trained but eccentric musician who died in 2009, and together they would write almost all of his songs and hundreds more for other artists. In Pennsylvania, Christie recorded and released a single, 'The Gypsy Cried,' that became a local hit in the Pittsburgh area. He moved to New York, got work as a backup singer and eventually wound up touring with Dick Clark's Cavalcade of Stars, sitting on a bus with Diana Ross and other standouts. 'I was with Gene Pitney and Johnny Tillotson, the Supremes, Paul and Paula, Dick and Dee Dee, the Crystals, the Ronettes, Fabian, Frankie Avalon,' the singer told writer Gary James for 'To me, this was my graduating class and still is today.' Christie's fans screamed over his signature falsetto when 'Two Faces Have I' made it to No. 6 on the Billboard 100 in 1963, the year he released his self-titled first album. He spent two years in the U.S. Army and upon his return released the single 'Lightnin' Strikes.' The song, off the 1965 album of the same name, hit No. 1 on that chart in 1966. He stirred up a bit of scandal with the 1966 song 'Rhapsody in Rain,' with lyrics that at the time were considered explicit: Baby the raindrops play for me / A lonely rhapsody 'cause on our first date / We were makin' out in the rain / And in this car our love went much too far / It was exciting as thunder / Tonight I wonder where you are' and 'Baby, I'm parked outside your door / Remember makin' love, makin' love, we were makin' love in the storm.' The tune topped out at No. 16 on the charts. His array of album releases grew with 'I'm Gonna Make You Mine' in 1969, 'Paint America Love' in 1971, 'Pledging My Love' in 1997 and more records over the years. The life of a teen idol in the early 1960s was a mix of dismissal and adulation, according to peer Fabian Forte, who performed as Fabian and toured with Christie in rock 'n' roll revival shows in the 1980s. 'They laughed at us. They wouldn't take us seriously as artists,' Forte told The Times in 1985, talking about music critics in the 1950s and early '60s. But, he added, 'Don't get me wrong. It wasn't all bad. For a teen-age boy, you can imagine what it was like having all those girls drooling over you. That was heaven.' The teen idols of that era faded with the British Invasion, but Christie didn't fade with them. 'I hit the end of that whole era,' Christie told writer James for 'I've always been between the cracks of rock 'n' roll, I felt. The missing link. ... We had the teenage idols. We had Frankie Avalon. We had Fabian. That thing was just about closing down when a lot of my records started hitting. ... They all disappeared, but my records kept going through that English Invasion.' In addition to releasing more music later in life, Christie would offer up his vocal talents to help raise money for causes including the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and a rock 'n' roll retirement home for artists from the '50s and '60s planned by the Starlight Starbright foundation. And in those years after his No. 1 spotlight had dimmed, Christie still knew how to put smiles on fans' faces, as evidenced after a performance at a festival at Magic Mountain in 1985. The event began late on one of the hottest days of the year after its lineup and schedule had switched around repeatedly leading up to the concert and the promoter had gone missing. Some acts that concert-goers expected to see wound up not performing — but Christie was not one of them. 'I'm really glad the show turned out well,' Christie told The Times in 1985, lounging in his trailer after his set at the 'Spirit of the '60s' festival. 'I tell you, I was going crazy with this thing — on, off, on again, off again. I had to cancel some dates I had arranged for after this was canceled the first time. But' — and a big smile crossed his face — 'they got their show, all right. The baby boomers really dug it. Even people backstage enjoyed it.' A representative for the singer did not immediately respond Thursday to The Times' request for comment.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Irish Times
Belgian police face backlash after 11-year-old on e-scooter killed in chase through park
The printed-out photo of 11-year-old Fabian has been put into plastic to keep it safe from the rain. The photo is resting among bouquets of flowers, teddy bears and lit candles at the spot where the child was run down by a police car in a Brussels park 2½ weeks ago. The boy had been riding an electric scooter, a fact that triggered a pursuit when he failed to stop for police. The chase ended fatally in a clearing in Elisabeth Park, just a short distance from the child's home. The death of Fabian, whose family is originally from Moldova , has stirred up fresh anger over the policing of immigrant communities in the Belgian capital. Initial inquiries suggest the police car pursuing the boy was travelling at more than 40km/h, through the public park, without its sirens on. It has not been established whether Fabian was hit by the car while riding the scooter, or if he first fell and was then run over. The police officer driving the vehicle was arrested several days later. READ MORE Young friends have left drawings and letters in among the wide circle of flowers that has built up in the park. One child has drawn a picture of rain clouds above a tree. 'For Fabian, love you,' the writing reads. Other items set down beside the flowers tell a story of a typical 11-year-old boy. There were several footballs, packets of M&Ms and other sweets, a toy car, and some bottles of Fanta, presumably his favourite fizzy drink. Flowers, teddy bears and pictures left at the spot Fabian (11) was run down by a pursuing police car in Brussels. Photograph: Jack Power The family were tending to the temporary memorial in the park when I visited earlier this week. They walked around the ring of flowers, carefully picking up and removing some of the wilted bouquets that had lost their colour. More flowers will be left in their place. Fabian's mother was too upset to talk about what happened. 'She's burning inside,' says a Romanian man visiting the memorial at the same time, who has spoken to the family since the child's death. The fact the fatal police pursuit started because Fabian was under the legal age to ride an electric scooter in Brussels – 16 years old – has incensed many in the local community as a wildly disproportionate response. More broadly, the police force has been accused of applying a heavier hand to boys and teenagers from immigrant backgrounds. The northwest suburb of the city where Fabian lived has a large immigrant community, who have rallied around the family since the boy's death at the start of June. Several hundred police officers attended a demonstration outside the Palace of Justice courthouse late last week, to show support for their colleague who has been arrested in the case. The investigation into Fabian's death is being led by Belgium's federal police ombudsman. The police officer involved has been placed under house arrest, with a further court hearing expected in the next fortnight. 'Let it be clear that there is no question of the police officer having intended to kill the victim,' public prosecutor Julien Moinil told a recent press conference. 'There was an intention to prevent the driver of the scooter from continuing his journey,' he said, according to reports in the Belgian media. The tragic death of the child should not become a 'trial' of the police in Brussels, he said. The prosecutor said there had been 'contradictions' between some of the initial statements taken from the officers involved in the collision, and the early findings of inquiries in the case. A full investigation into what had happened is continuing, Moinil said. [ Everyone's friend: How Mongolia stays on good terms with Russia, China and western powers Opens in new window ] Silke van Herrewegen, a mother of three who lives near Elisabeth Park, says it felt like the whole neighbourhood was in a state of 'collective mourning'. The injustice of Fabian's death is enormous and the grief so shattering for the family, she says. 'I'm white, my children are white, I view the world through a white lens. I don't get asked for my ID every day. That's something the teens in the park who are of colour deal with,' she says. The fault for any rising tension between the police and immigrant communities lay with the police, due to the 'aggressive' way they went about their routine patrols, she says. Children who heard what happened to Fabian had lots of questions for parents in the days afterwards. 'Do you always die if you are taken away in an ambulance?' was one question Van Herrewegen says stood out for her. 'Our kids all play in the park,' she says. 'This shouldn't have happened.'
Canada Standard
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
"Iran-Israel talks going to dominate G7 summit in Canada": KP Fabian
New Delhi [India], June 15 (ANI): The upcoming G7 Summit in Canada is expected to prioritise discussions on the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, according to Foreign Affairs expert KP Fabian. Speaking to ANI, Fabian stated that the G7, well, earlier, the war in Ukraine was going to dominate the talks. Now, it is reasonably clear that the Iran-Israel Tension and hostilities are going to dominate the G7. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made it clear that there will be no joint communique, only action-oriented statements. Fabian noted that this decision is likely an effort to avoid irritating US President Donald Trump, who previously walked out of a G7 Summit in Canada after disagreeing with the joint communique. 'The host government... wants to make sure that nothing irritates Trump,' Fabian said. 'So Prime Minister Carney is playing it very carefully, very cautiously,' he added. Fabian also highlighted Iran's scepticism towards nuclear talks with the US following Israel's recent strikes on Iran. Simplifying the scenario, he affirmed that Iran believes that Israel's actions were only possible with the approval of the United States, rendering further negotiations with America pointless. 'Iran honestly believes, and Iran is not wrong, that. Israel struck only with the approval of President Donald Trump. So if that is the case, what's the point in talking to America? If America is permitting Israel to strike. Then there's no point in talking. Iran is right,' he said. 'Now, this doesn't mean there will be no more talks because Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have spoken to each other, and it is possible, I say, after a few days,' he added. Trump on Saturday (local time) revealed that he received a call from Russian President Putin on his 79th birthday and talked about the war between Israel and Iran, which both leaders agreed 'should end.' The conversation occurred before Trump is set to mark his 79th birthday in the evening by attending a military parade on the streets of Washington, DC, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army. Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, 'President Putin called this morning to very nicely wish me a Happy Birthday, but to more importantly, talk about Iran, a country he knows very well.' The phone call, which lasted around an hour, primarily focused on the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. (ANI)
