‘Do you want the answer?': Putin loses cool over Iran's Khamenei ‘assassination' threat question
Russian President Vladimir Putin firmly refused to discuss the possibility of the United States and Israel assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Putin stated that the Iranian people were rallying around their leadership in Tehran, even as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hints at regime change and US President Donald Trump claims to know Khamenei's exact location.
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Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Second time my son's wedding cancelled': Netanyahu says his family not exempt from ‘personal costs' amid Israel-Iran conflict
Amid the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided the example of his son's postponed wedding in an attempt to drive home the point of 'personal costs' during conflict situations, and highlight that even his family 'has not been exempt'. Speaking from outside Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba — struck earlier by an Iranian missile — Netanyahu on Thursday said the ongoing war was affecting every Israeli family, including his own. 'It really reminds me of the British people during the blitz. We are going through a blitz,' Netanyahu said, referring to the current conflict in context to the World War II bombing of Britain which claimed the lives of over 40,000 civilians. 'There are people who were killed, families who grieved loved ones, I really appreciate that,' he added. 'Each of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt,' he continued. 'This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancée as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost.' Avner Netanyahu's wedding was first scheduled for November but was postponed due to security reasons. It had been rescheduled for this Monday, despite ongoing tensions and threats of protests. According to The Guardian, reports that Netanyahu planned to take a short leave from official duties for the ceremony may have contributed to a false sense of calm in Tehran ahead of Israel's aerial strike. The prime minister's remarks, intended to show solidarity with Israeli citizens, instead drew sharp criticism from the public and the political spectrum. Anat Angrest, whose son Matan has been held hostage in Gaza since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, responded: 'I have been in the hellish dungeons of Gaza for 622 days now,' she wrote on social media, adding that the Netanyahu family's suffering 'didn't go unnoticed by my family either.' Gilad Kariv, a Knesset member with the Democrats, called Netanyahu a 'borderless narcissist.' He also challenged Netanyahu's praise of his wife Sara as a 'hero,' stating, 'The doctors who leave home for night shifts are the heroes. The teachers who keep our children together on Zoom and phone calls are the heroes.' As the two sides continue to trade strikes for the seventh straight day, Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would 'do what's best for America'. 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot,' he said. This comes as a new diplomatic initiative appeared to be underway as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel Friday to Geneva for meetings with the European Union's top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany. On Thursday, President Donald Trump said he will decide within two weeks whether the US military will get directly involved in the conflict between the two longstanding foes, given the 'substantial chance' for renewed talks with Iran over its nuclear programme. So far, at least 639 people — including 263 civilians — have been killed in Iran, with more than 1,300 injured, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Israeli officials estimate that Iran has launched roughly 450 missiles and 1,000 drones. Most have been intercepted, but at least 24 Israelis have died and hundreds more have been injured, the military had said. (With inputs from The Guardian)
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Son's wedding cancelled for second time': Netanyahu shares 'personal cost' of war with Iran; sparks backlash
Standing before the shattered facade of Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sombre message invoking the spirit of wartime London during the Blitz. But rather than rally national unity, his comments – referencing his son Avner's postponed wedding – sparked widespread backlash online and among his critics. 'It really reminds me of the British people during the Blitz. We are going through a blitz,' Netanyahu said, seeking to draw a parallel between the Nazi bombing of Britain and the ongoing Israeli-Iranian conflict. He then spoke of the 'personal cost' his family has borne, saying Avner's wedding had been postponed for the second time due to missile threats. 'This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancee as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost,' he said. Critics seized on his remarks as tone-deaf, accusing the prime minister of being emotionally detached from the war's daily toll, which has left 24 Israeli civilians dead and many more wounded. Iran's death toll is far higher, with a Washington-based rights group reporting at least 657 killed, including 263 civilians, and over 2,000 injured. The war began with a wave of surprise Israeli airstrikes on June 13 targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, key military personnel, and infrastructure. In retaliation, Iran launched over 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, striking multiple Israeli cities. A missile hit Soroka hospital on Thursday morning, injuring around 80 people and damaging critical infrastructure. While Iran claimed the intended target was a nearby Israeli military tech unit, Israeli officials said there was no intelligence suggesting the hospital was deliberately hit. Netanyahu, speaking amidst the rubble, also praised President Trump's ongoing support. 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot,' he said, expressing trust in the US to 'do what's best for America.' The White House confirmed that Trump would make a decision on possible direct action against Iran within two weeks. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said ongoing negotiations with Tehran include demands for a complete halt to uranium enrichment and the dismantling of its nuclear programme. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have reportedly reached deep into Iran, including targets in Rasht and Isfahan. Iran's defensive capabilities were visibly strained, and with Hezbollah weakened and Syria's former president Assad ousted in late 2024, Tehran appears increasingly isolated. Iran has also threatened to disrupt global trade through the Strait of Hormuz, warning of economic repercussions if the war continues.
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Is Beijing spying on Moscow? Chinese hackers target Russian agencies for war secrets: Report
Cybersecurity experts have uncovered that state-backed Chinese groups have been infiltrating Russian networks since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, all in pursuit of sensitive military data. Although the two nations maintain a 'no-limits' partnership, a leaked FSB document indicates Russia's increasing unease regarding Chinese surveillance activities, even categorizing China as a potential adversary. Chinese state-affiliated groups have been reportedly hacking Russian government agencies and companies since the Ukraine war began, seeking military intelligence, according to cybersecurity analysts. According to NYT report, The cyber campaign intensified in May 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, even as Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin touted an unprecedented era of cooperation between their nations. In one notable incident in 2023, a Chinese group called Sanyo masqueraded as representatives of a major Russian engineering firm to gather intelligence about nuclear submarines, according to findings by TeamT5, a Taiwanese cybersecurity research firm. While China's military and technological capabilities surpass Russia's, Chinese military strategists have long noted their forces' lack of actual combat experience. The Ukraine conflict presents Beijing with an opportunity to study modern warfare tactics and Western military equipment's effectiveness, experts say. A classified FSB (Russia's domestic security agency) counterintelligence document obtained by The New York Times reveals Moscow's growing concerns about Chinese espionage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Install the Perfect Pool at Home – Start Here Backyard Pool | Search Ads Learn More Undo The document explicitly labels China an "enemy" and acknowledges Beijing's efforts to acquire Russian defence technology and learn from its military operations in Ukraine. The relationship appears more complex than the publicly proclaimed "no-limits" partnership. While Russia has become increasingly dependent on China for oil exports and war-critical technology amid Western sanctions, the extent of Chinese cyber operations suggests significant mutual distrust. Though allies, both are occasionally known to engage in espionage against each other, the scale of China's cyber campaign against Russia indicates both deeper suspicion between the powers and Moscow's reluctance to fully share its battlefield insights from Ukraine.
