Documentary unearths Hampi's forgotten link to Italy
The idea took shape when a politician remarked that most European tourists were unaware of Hampi and India's other historic archaeological sites.
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Arabian Post
16 minutes ago
- Arabian Post
Peace Deal Declared to End '12‑Day War'
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Donald Trump proclaimed a full ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday, marking what he described as the end of a '12‑day war' that forced millions from Tehran and sparked grave fears of escalation. He posted on Truth Social that Iran would halt its operations at midnight ET, followed by Israel twelve hours later, culminating in a 24‑hour cessation of hostilities. Trump touted the move as a diplomatic breakthrough, congratulating 'both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end' the conflict. He asserted that the agreement was brokered in discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu and through U.S. envoys in dialogue with Tehran, with Qatar playing a key intermediary role. ADVERTISEMENT Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, echoed that Tehran's forces stood down at 4 a.m. Tehran time if Israel ceased its attacks by then, though he clarified that a final decision on halting military operations was pending. Israel's military has yet to formally acknowledge the ceasefire, and missile alerts and strikes were still reported over Tel Aviv, Beersheba and the Golan Heights in the hours following the announcement. The conflict began on 13 June when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure, including sites near Natanz, Isfahan and Tehran. That response, which Israeli authorities described as necessary to counter an alleged Iranian march towards nuclear weapons capability, included the destruction of centrifuge material and the deaths of senior Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with waves of missiles and drones aimed at Israeli territory; Israel intercepted many of them, but civilian casualties were reported in Beersheba and Tel Aviv. The conflict widened when the United States joined with bunker‑buster strikes on Iranian underground nuclear facilities over the weekend, prompting Iran to retaliate by targeting the U.S. air base at Al Udeid in Qatar. The attack caused no casualties, and Trump later thanked Iran for the 'early notice,' calling it a 'very weak response'. Though Trump dismissed European diplomatic efforts as ineffective, he warned that U.S. involvement remained a distinct possibility if Iran escalated further, positioning American strikes solely against nuclear targets. Internal Israeli pressure also rose; Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly instructed ministers to refrain from public commentary as military activity approached a pause. Humanitarian fallout during this period has been acute. Over 650 Iranians have died, according to Iranian health data, including civilians, and over 200 Israeli military and civilian fatalities have been reported. Tehran saw large-scale evacuations as power and internet access faltered. International bodies raised alarms over the bombardment of nuclear facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency cautioned against striking enrichment sites due to risks of radiological contamination. Legal experts also voiced concerns that the strikes on civilian infrastructure—including hospitals and residential neighborhoods—could constitute violations under international humanitarian law. Despite the ceasefire declaration, uncertainty remains. Iran's foreign minister warned that if Israeli attacks persisted past 4 a.m. Tehran time, hostilities could resume. Similarly, Israeli officials reported continued launcher of missiles from Iran, demonstrating that the ceasefire may be fragile. Regional and global reactions have been varied. Qatar's prime minister was credited with facilitating Iran's acceptance of the U.S.-proposed ceasefire. European negotiators, meanwhile, expressed frustration that efforts in Geneva had produced little movement before hostilities intensified. Both Russia and China urged restraint and urged full de‑escalation. Markets responded positively to the ceasefire announcement, reflecting investor hopes for regional stability, yet the humanitarian toll and legal implications—the destruction of nuclear infrastructure, civilian casualties, and potential violations of international law—leave an ambiguous legacy for a war that surged in intensity over just under two weeks. The path ahead now hinges on whether both nations uphold the phased withdrawal and open room for diplomatic resolution amid deep mistrust.
Korea Herald
19 minutes ago
- Korea Herald
Trinasolar and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Strengthen Partnership with Inauguration of Demo Center
A new space to foster collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning in solar energy — part of Trinasolar's growing global network of university-linked Demo Centers. MADRID, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Trinasolar, a global leader in smart solar and storage solutions, and the Instituto de Energía Solar at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid have officially inaugurated their joint Demo Center, located on the university's campus in the Spanish capital. The opening of this Demo Center marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership launched in early 2024 between Trinasolar and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. More than just a technology showcase, the center underscores the shared values of innovation, knowledge exchange, and long-term collaboration that define this alliance. It is designed to serve as both a real-world testbed for emerging solar technologies and a collaborative space for joint R&D, training, and open innovation in the renewable energy sector. Visitors to the Demo Center will have the opportunity to explore the performance of Trinasolar's proprietary Vertex N series photovoltaic modules, as well as its complete range of solar mounting solutions, including the Vanguard 1P and 2P trackers, and the FixOrigin fixed-tilt structure. "This Demo Center represents a bridge between innovation and collaboration," said Gonzalo de la Viña, President of Trinasolar Europe. "It allows us to demonstrate the quality and performance of our latest technologies to our European partners while deepening our joint work with one of Europe's leading solar research institutions." From the Instituto de Energía Solar, Ignacio Antón Hernandez, Director at Instituto Solar, added: "Having access to such advanced technologies on campus opens up great opportunities for our students, researchers and collaborative projects. It's a living lab, and also a space for connection with the industry." The inauguration, held on June 18th, brought together representatives from academia, industry, and the renewable energy sector, reinforcing Trinasolar's broader commitment to supporting the global energy transition through local partnerships. In addition to the Madrid facility, Trinasolar recently opened another Demo Center in São Paulo, Brazil, in collaboration with Facens University. This initiative is part of a growing global network of collaborations with academic institutions, designed to foster talent development, research, and innovation in solar energy around the world.
France 24
20 minutes ago
- France 24
NATO summit opens amid discord over defence spending and Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts are due to gather Tuesday for a summit that could unite the world's biggest security organization around a new defense spending pledge or widen divisions among the 32 allies. Just a week ago, things had seemed rosy. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was optimistic the European members and Canada would commit to invest at least as much of their economic growth on defense as the United States does for the first time. Then Spain rejected the new NATO target for each country to spend 5% of its gross domestic product on defense needs, calling it 'unreasonable.' Trump also insists on that figure. The alliance operates on a consensus that requires the backing of all 32 members. The following day, Trump said the U.S. should not have to respect the goal. 'I don't think we should, but I think they should,' he said. Trump lashed out at Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government, saying: 'NATO is going to have to deal with Spain. Spain's been a very low payer." He also criticized Canada as 'a low payer.' Spain was the lowest spender in the alliance last year, directing less than 2% of its GDP on defense expenditure, while Canada was spending 1.45%, according to NATO figures. Then Trump ordered the bombing of nuclear installations in Iran. In 2003, the U.S.-led war on Iraq deeply divided NATO, as France and Germany led opposition to the attack, while Britain and Spain joined the coalition. European allies and Canada also want Ukraine to be at the top of the summit agenda, but they are wary that Trump might not want President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to steal the limelight. A short summit, decades of mutual security The two-day summit in The Hague involves an informal dinner Tuesday and one working session Wednesday morning. A very short summit statement has been drafted to ensure the meeting is not derailed by fights over details and wording. Indeed, much about this NATO summit is brief, even though ripples could be felt for years. Founded in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed by 12 nations to counter the threat to security in Europe posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, notably via a strong U.S. presence on the continent. Dealing with Moscow is in its DNA. Keeping the peace outside the Euro-Atlantic area is not. NATO's ranks have grown to 32 countries since the Washington Treaty was signed 75 years ago. Sweden joined last year, worried by an increasingly aggressive Russia. NATO's collective security guarantee — Article 5 of the treaty — underpins its credibility. It's a political commitment by all countries to come to the aid of any member whose sovereignty or territory might be under attack. Trump has suggested he is committed to that pledge, but he has also sowed doubt about his intentions. He has said the U.S. intends to remain a member of the alliance. A civilian runs NATO, but the U.S. and its military hold power The United States is NATO's most powerful member. It spends much more on defense than any other ally and far outweighs its partners in terms of military muscle. Washington has traditionally driven the agenda but has stepped back under Trump. The U.S. nuclear arsenal provides strategic deterrence against would-be adversaries. NATO's day-to-day work is led by Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister . As its top civilian official, he chairs almost weekly meetings of ambassadors in the North Atlantic Council at its Brussels headquarters. He chairs other 'NACs' at ministerial and leader levels. Rutte runs NATO headquarters, trying to foster consensus and to speak on behalf of all members. NATO's military headquarters is based nearby in Mons, Belgium. It is always run by a top U.S. officer. Ukraine's role at the summit is unclear With Trump demanding greater defense spending, it's unclear what role Ukraine will play at the summit. Zelenskyy has been invited, but it's unclear whether he will have a seat at NATO's table, although he may take part in Tuesday's dinner. Russia's war in Ukraine usually dominates such meetings. More broadly, NATO itself is not arming Ukraine. As an organization, it possesses no weapons of any kind. Collectively, it provides only non-lethal support — fuel, combat rations, medical supplies, body armor, and equipment to counter drones or mines. But individually, members do send arms. European allies provided 60% of the military support that Ukraine received in 2024. NATO coordinates those weapons deliveries via a hub on the Polish border and helps organize training for Ukrainian troops. NATO's troop plans A key part of the commitment for allies to defend one another is to deter Russia, or any other adversary, from attacking in the first place. Finland and Sweden joined NATO recently because of this concern. Under NATO's new military plans, 300,000 military personnel would be deployed within 30 days to counter any attack, whether it be on land, at sea, by air or in cyberspace. But experts doubt whether the allies could muster the troop numbers. It's not just about troop and equipment numbers. An adversary would be less likely to challenge NATO if it thought the allies would use the forces it controls. Trump's threats against U.S. allies — including imposing tariffs on them — has weakened that deterrence. The U.S. is carrying the biggest military burden Due to high U.S. defense spending over many years, the American armed forces have more personnel and superior weapons but also significant transportation and logistics assets. Other allies are starting to spend more, though. After years of cuts, NATO members committed to ramp up their national defense budgets in 2014 when Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the NATO allies agreed to make 2% of GDP the minimum spending level. Last year, 22 countries were expected to hit that target, up from only three a decade ago. In The Hague, the allies were expected to up the ante to 3.5%, plus a further 1.5% for things like improving roads, bridges, ports and airfields or preparing societies to deal with future conflicts. Whether they will now remains an open question.
