
India tracks LA protests, advises caution for Indian Nationals
As immigration-related protests rock Los Angeles and several other major US cities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that it is closely tracking the situation and remains in touch with the Indian diaspora in the affected areas.'We are aware of the developments, and as you are aware, we take the safety, security, and welfare of our citizens abroad with utmost seriousness,' said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a media briefing.VIDEO | On Los Angeles protests and immigration crackdown, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) says:"We are aware of the developments, and as you are aware, we take the safety, security, and welfare of our citizens abroad with utmost seriousness. The LA region and pic.twitter.com/OhApKZ13Yv— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 12, 2025advertisementWith thousands of Indian nationals living across California, many in and around Los Angeles, the ministry has urged the community to exercise caution amid a tense environment that has seen mass protests, curfews, and deployment of federal forces.
Jaiswal noted that the Indian Consulate in San Francisco is 'closely monitoring the situation and remains in close touch with our community members for their welfare.' He added, 'The LA region and California in general is home to a large community of Indians. We advise all Indian nationals in the region to take suitable safety precautions.'The protests, now in their sixth day, were sparked by a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles, which reportedly led to the arrest of dozens of undocumented immigrants. According to media reports, protests have now spread to several other US cities, including New York, Seattle, Chicago, and Washington, DC.advertisementMore protests are scheduled this weekend, coinciding with a military parade planned by Trump in Washington. Since Saturday, nearly 400 protestors have been detained or arrested in the LA area alone.The protests intensified after Trump called up the Guard and have since spread to other cities, including Boston, Chicago and Seattle. And more are scheduled for this weekend as Trump stages a military parade in Washington.The protests started Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading Saturday to the neighboring cities of Compton and Paramount. They have been driven by anger over Trump's stepped-up enforcement of immigration laws. According to the Associated Press, Los Angeles County presents a ripe target for the raids, as an estimated 10% of residents aren't in the country legally.Tune InMust Watch

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Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump's 79th birthday: Washington to host US Army parade and celebrations on June 14; Route, timings and know how to watch online
On June 14, 2025, the US Army will commemorate its 250th anniversary with a large-scale public festival and military parade in Washington, D.C. The date also coincides with the US President Donald Trump 's 79th birthday, drawing additional public and media attention. Events will be held across the National Mall and surrounding areas, featuring military demonstrations, live performances, and ceremonial highlights. While Army officials emphasise that the celebration is intended to honour the service's historic legacy, the overlap with Trump's birthday has led many to view it as a dual celebration. According to the reports, the US Army's grand event, estimated to cost up to $45 million (approximately £33 million), will feature more than 7,000 uniformed soldiers, an array of tanks and military vehicles, marching bands, and a fireworks display. While the celebration marks the Army's 250th anniversary and coincides with Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Donald Trump's birthday military parade: Where and when to watch in Washington, D.C. According to USA Today reports, the military parade is set to begin at 6:30 pm ET , marching down six blocks of Constitution Avenue NW , from 23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW . The route will take the procession past several historic landmarks and conclude near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. President Trump is expected to watch the event from a specially constructed stand near the White House along Constitution Avenue. Attendees can expect to see: Troops in both historic and modern uniforms Flyovers featuring Blackhawk helicopters and vintage warplanes Heavy artillery and military equipment Live performances by multiple military bands Donald Trump's birthday and US army 250th parade on June 14: Check full schedule Here's a detailed timeline of the Army Birthday Festival and military parade events taking place in Washington, D.C. as per USA Today reports. Time (ET) Event 8:15 am Wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery (led by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth) 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Public fitness competition 11:00 am Live music by US Army Band and Drill Team; cooking demo by Army veteran Chef Andre Rush 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Noah Hicks performance on main stage 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm NFL "Skills and Drills" interactive session 1:30 pm – 1:45 pm Medal of Honor recipients recognition 2:00 pm – 2:50 pm Scotty Hasting performance on main stage 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm Special presentation: "Army Astronaut" event 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm Official 250th Army Birthday ceremony with cake cutting (livestreamed) 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Transition from festival to parade 6:30 pm Parade begins along Constitution Avenue NW 7:45 pm – 8:00 pm Enlistment ceremony, evening concert at the Ellipse, followed by fireworks Source: US Army website How to watch Donald Trump's birthday military parade online The parade and accompanying events are free to attend, but advance RSVP is required. Attendees must provide basic information including name, contact details, state, and ZIP code to register. Due to limited space, early registration is encouraged. For those unable to be in Washington, D.C., the parade will be livestreamed across US Army social media platforms . For further details, including directions and the full event schedule, visitors can refer to the official Army site at . Donald Trump parade day begins with army birthday festival and public celebrations Before the evening parade, celebrations will kick off with the Army Birthday Festival, an all-day public event beginning at 11 am ET. The festival takes place on the National Mall, between 14th Street SW and the 12th Street Expressway, close to Madison and Jefferson of the festival include: Military demonstrations and interactive equipment exhibits A public fitness challenge from 9:30 am to noon Live music and family-friendly activity zones Meet-and-greet sessions featuring NFL players and popular social media personalities Country music performers Scotty Hasting and Noah Hicks, along with DJ Nyla Symone, are among the featured entertainers. Ceremonial events and evening performances The evening segment of the celebration is rich with ceremonial highlights: A parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights, the US Army's elite parachuting team A fireworks display A concert featuring military and civilian performers A military enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony, expected to be attended by President Trump Despite the prominence of this event, other branches of the military, such as the Navy and Marine Corps also celebrating their 250th anniversaries in 2025 have not announced similar parades. A spokesperson for the Navy confirmed no such public ceremony is planned for its October milestone. Donald Trump's birthday and Military Parade Day in the US: Related FAQs What is the occasion for Donald Trump's military parade on June 14, 2025? The parade marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army coinciding with US President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Where and when will the military parade take place? The parade will begin at 6:30 pm ET on Constitution Avenue NW, from 23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., passing several historic landmarks. What are the key highlights of the event? Expect troops in historic and modern uniforms, Blackhawk helicopter flyovers, vintage warplanes, heavy artillery displays, live military bands, and a parachute demo by the Golden Knights. How can I attend or watch the parade online? Attendance is free, but an RSVP is required. For those unable to attend, the parade will be livestreamed on US Army social media platforms. Details are available at . What other events are planned for the day? The day begins with the Army Birthday Festival at 11 am ET on the National Mall, featuring military demos, music, fitness challenges, and celebrity meet-and-greets before the evening parade.


The Hindu
22 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Rogue nation: on Israel's Iran strikes
Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, at a time when Washington and Tehran were in talks, are brazenly illegal, reckless and dangerous. If there was any possibility of resolving the nuclear issue through dialogue, Israel has practically killed it. That Donald Trump, despite his repeated warnings, failed to stop America's closest ally from launching the attacks — threatening his own diplomatic push — suggests that the U.S. President was either not serious about his words or had limited influence. Israel's overnight attack targeted the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, ballistic missile factories and the residences of Iran's top nuclear scientists and military chain of command. In retaliation, Iran launched a drone attack, with most shot down. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has promised a harsh response. If Iran launches ballistic missiles, which seems likely, Israel would carry out more attacks, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated. So what possibly awaits West Asia are prolonged attacks and counterattacks, with potential regional spillover effects. There are legitimate concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. It has enriched uranium to 60% purity, way above the grade for civilian purposes. Israel says Iran was making attempts to build a bomb in secret. While the IAEA says Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to make bombs, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that Iran has moved in this direction. Tehran once agreed to scuttle its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions as part of the multilateral agreement in 2015, but it was Mr. Trump who sabotaged the agreement. And when Mr. Trump, in his second term, offered dialogue, the Iranians seized it. But what Iran got instead was an attack on its nuclear plants. Israel did this as it knew it could get away with any form of aggression, thanks to the U.S.'s military, political and diplomatic support. Israel has behaved like a rogue nation ever since the October 7 attack by Hamas. It is facing allegations of committing genocide after its destruction in Gaza that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians. It routinely bombs Lebanon despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah. It has carved up more territories in Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime. And now, by attacking Iran, Tel Aviv has pushed West Asia into a deeper security abyss. Israel's unchecked militarism is closing the space for diplomacy in a tumultuous region. If the conflict spills over into the Gulf waters and kingdoms, it would be catastrophic for the global economy, especially for India whose millions of citizens work and live in the region. There must be an immediate, coordinated international effort to rein in the Jewish state and reboot diplomacy to restore stability in West Asia.


Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Oil up 8%, but India may not feel much pain
NEW DELHI: The Israel-Iran conflict may not immediately disrupt global oil supplies , but the tensions could keep prices elevated, squeezing oil marketing companies' margins while having little impact on consumer prices, according to executives at Indian refining firms. An Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, followed by Iran's vow to retaliate, sent shockwaves through the oil market on Friday, pushing benchmark Brent crude up 8% to $75 a barrel. "It is in the interest of the US, Iran, and other West Asian producers to keep oil flowing without disruption," said a refinery executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Producers in the region will not want their trade disrupted, and Trump will be wary of global supply shocks that could push up US pump prices." "India's crude supply basket is currently well-diversified and West Asia has a comparatively smaller footprint than it was a decade ago," said M K Surana, the CEO of Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and former chief of HPCL . Russia currently supplies about 40% of India's crude imports. "More than supply, it's the price risk that's more relevant to India. This can weigh on oil marketing companies' margins." "Structurally, the global oil market supports lower crude oil prices with increased OPEC+ supplies and weak demand growth. But escalating geopolitical tensions brings in risk premium in oil prices, higher freight and insurance costs," Surana said. "Speculation creates upward momentum in prices." Despite the rise in crude prices, domestic fuel rates are unlikely to be affected as pump prices in India are already at elevated levels, said another executive. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )