Opinion April 28, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Violence In Gujarat
Authorities in Baroda ordered the police to shoot anybody found indulging in arson or looting as incidents of violence continued to sweep Gujarat in the wake of the anti-reservation stir. Baroda and two other major towns of Gujarat — Surat and Anand — came under indefinite curfew after mob violence.
Ambush in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's Tamil militants, using remote-controlled detonators, blew up an army convoy at Kattaipanchan in the Eastern Batticaloa district killing seven personnel on the spot. The incident occurred on the Batticaloa-Muthur road as the armymen under the command of W D Amarlal were proceeding in a jeep on a routine patrol. There were twin explosions as the militants set off the explosives under the jeep. This was the third ambush of Army convoys in the island's eastern and northern provinces during the last two days.
Clashes In Bombay
Two unidentified persons were stabbed to death while at least nine were injured, including four in police firing, following group clashes at Antop Hill and Musafirkhana areas in Bombay. The police told UNI that the clashes began following the declaration of the Bombay Municipal Corporation election results. Rival groups used stones and soda water bottles in the clashes. Several policemen were also injured when they tried to control the situation. The police have made several arrests.
Longowal On Unity
The Akali Dal chief Harchand Singh Longowal reiterated that Sikhs were going to live in this country and work for its integrity and unity. 'We shall not allow this nation to be divided. But we shall keep our heads high and fight for our rights,' he said.
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News18
25 minutes ago
- News18
Israel's Big Claims: Air Superiority From Western Iran To Tehran, Strikes On Nuclear Sites
Last Updated: The Israeli military said its military campaign in Iran had secured control of the airspace from Western Iran to Tehran as the two countries exchanged fire for a second day. The Israeli military said on Saturday that its military campaign in Iran had secured control of the airspace from Western Iran to Tehran, where 70 fighter jets carried out airstrikes overnight in one of the biggest direct attacks between the two sworn enemies. 'We have created aerial freedom of action from west Iran all the way to Tehran," said Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin. 'Tehran is no longer immune, the capital is exposed to Israeli strikes," he added. Defrin said some 40 sites were targeted in Israel's offensive, including air defence systems and related assets. 'The dozens of aircraft are flying freely over Tehran, thanks to the opening blow that removed the threat of Iranian air defence systems," he added. The Israeli military launched a devastating offensive against Iran, targeting its nuclear and military infrastructure under Operation Rising Lion. The military killed most of Iran's military leadership and nuclear scientists involved in Tehran's controversial nuclear programme. The IDF said at least 20 top military Iranian commanders have been killed since Israel launched its operation against Iran on Friday, including Army Chief Mohammed Bagheri, who 'oversaw most of Iran's long-range surface-to-surface and cruise missile capabilities". The military also released a video of Israeli strikes, showing it dismantling some of Iran's most dangerous military assets, from nuclear sites to air defence systems. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces dealt 'serious damage" to Iran's nuclear programme and threatened to strike 'every target of the ayatollah regime" in Iran. He said the Israeli campaign delayed Iran's nuclear programme by several years. Iran-Israel Conflict Continues Meanwhile, Israel continued to strike several sites in Iran after Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv overnight, leaving three people dead and 70 others injured. According to Iranian media, an Israeli strike on Saturday killed three members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the country's northwest. A police chief and another officer were killed in a drone strike about 300 km from Tehran. (with agency inputs) First Published: June 14, 2025, 21:01 IST
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tanks, thunder, and Trump: The military parade that split America
Amid traffic jams, military flyovers, and thousands of troops marching down Constitution Avenue, the United States Army celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday. But it wasn't just about history. It was also President Donald Trump's 79th birthday — a detail that has split public opinion and overshadowed the event's original intent. The scale was massive: 6,700 soldiers, 150 vehicles including tanks and howitzers, and more than 50 aircraft. Fighter jets, including the Air Force's Thunderbirds — a last-minute addition at Trump's request — were among the parade's highlights. 'I think it's time for us to celebrate a little bit. You know, we've had a lot of victories,' Trump said earlier in the week. 'It is my birthday, but I'm not celebrating my birthday,' he insisted, pointing instead to Flag Day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enlarged Prostate Has Nothing to Do with Age. Just Stop Doing This One Common Thing! Health Benefits Undo It was the first national military parade of this scale since 1991, when troops returned home victorious from the Gulf War. Among the highlights: tanks on urban roads, a White House parachute flag-drop, and a flyover. Trump, stationed at his own reviewing stand, called it 'a celebration of our country' and 'of the Army, actually.' But protests are mounting, weather warnings loomed, and concerns about the parade's cost and purpose deepened — especially as it occurred while the U.S. military engages in controversial operations at home and abroad. Live Events 'This would make great TV' The idea took root last year. At a long-running Army pageant called the 'Twilight Tattoo,' General Randy George and Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler were hosting media executives when one leaned over and said, 'This would make great television,' according to Butler. From there, things escalated. The Army was already looking for ways to mark its milestone. The suggestion of turning their ceremonial show into a full-blown parade landed without resistance. 'We wanted to reintroduce this nation's Army to the American people,' Butler said. 'To do that, we thought we needed to be in their living rooms and on their phones. We needed something that would catch the national eye.' With Trump's interest piqued — a former media executive who had previously tried and failed to stage a military parade — the door opened. 'It was like knocking on an unlocked door,' said one planning official. Millions in costs, disruptions, and doubts Not everyone is clapping. A poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center shows nearly 60% of Americans think the parade is a poor use of government money. The Army has estimated its own logistics could cost up to $45 million. Security, air traffic closures, and city disruptions will drive the price higher. 'I remain concerned about it, I have to tell you,' said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. 'These are, for the most part, local streets, and if they're rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds.' The city is already bracing for road closures, suspended flights, and potential damage to infrastructure. Tanks have been spotted rolling down Rhode Island Avenue, escorted by police. Steel plates and rubber pads have been deployed along the route to mitigate damage, according to Army spokesperson Heather J. Hagan, who said the expected road damage would be 'minimal.' 'A prop for the President' The backlash hasn't been limited to cost. Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth , a former Army officer, called the parade 'Donald Trump's birthday parade,' accusing the president of exploiting the event for his own image. 'It's to stroke his own ego and make taxpayers foot the bill,' she said. Critics have compared the event to military displays in Russia or North Korea — performative demonstrations of power under authoritarian regimes. Local advisory commissioners have passed resolutions calling for the parade's cancellation, saying it reflects 'authoritarian governments more than democracies.' Samuel Port, a former Army logistics officer and now unemployed contractor, summed up a common sentiment: 'Trump is using this as an excuse to prop himself up. It demeans the soldiers because it's using them as a political prop.' Flashpoints: Immigration raids, Iran aid and public disapproval The parade comes at a sensitive time. Just one day earlier, the United States began assisting Israel's defence against Iranian missile attacks. And earlier in the week, Trump deployed both National Guard and Marine forces to Southern California to suppress protests against immigration raids. The president bypassed state authority in doing so, drawing legal and political scrutiny. 'The President is deploying the American military to police the American people,' Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee , told Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during hearings this week. 'Sending the Marines — not after foreign threats, but after American protesters... should stop every one of us cold.' According to a new NBC News/Decision Desk poll released Saturday morning, 64% of Americans disapprove of the parade. Many cite both the financial burden and the optics of military power being used domestically. 'I wouldn't have done it,' said Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), likening the display to Soviet-era demonstrations. 'We were proud not to be that.' Pomp, power, and the President's image The parade also drew comparisons to past authoritarian spectacles. Trump, who has long admired large-scale military demonstrations, first pushed for a parade of this kind after visiting France's Bastille Day celebration in 2017. That effort stalled during his first term, but the 250th Army anniversary provided the perfect excuse. Critics say this was not merely about honouring service. 'It's a stupid order,' said retired Rear Admiral Ken Carodine. 'But it's a legal order. Most of the guys organising or marching in this thing, it's the last thing they want to be doing.' Presidential historian Barbara Perry from the University of Virginia noted the personalisation of the event. 'Usually it's about the personnel,' she said. 'If [Trump] views it as 'his generals' or 'his military,' and ties it to his birthday — that's what's different.' Trump, however, insists the parade is not about him. 'It will be a parade like we haven't had in many, many decades here,' he said this week. 'And it's a celebration of our country.' Weather threatens parade, not public backlash Despite forecasts warning of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms, federal officials opted to proceed with the event as scheduled. The parade was set to begin at 6:30 p.m., following a day of commemorations along the National Mall. For Trump, the parade marks a symbolic high point following his return to the presidency in the 2024 elections. Supporters see it as a reaffirmation of strength and patriotism. But detractors view it as a diversion from failed foreign policy pledges, especially regarding the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The president had campaigned on promises to end these conflicts. But the parade's timing — against the backdrop of ongoing deployments and incomplete missions — raises questions about whether the event is celebrating victory, or distracting from the lack of it. 'No Kings': Protesters reject militarisation Demonstrations have erupted in Washington and across the country, organised under the slogan 'No Kings.' Activists accuse the president of using military force to bolster his own image. Trump has warned protesters that they 'will be met with very big force,' echoing his broader posture on dissent. That rhetoric has only intensified criticism that the commander-in-chief is merging military spectacle with authoritarian messaging. Local leaders are also frustrated. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concerns over costs and disruptions. Neighbourhood commissioners passed resolutions calling the parade 'a grotesque spectacle.' And with tanks rolling through streets that recently saw the forced removal of homeless encampments, many see the juxtaposition as deliberate. 'It's appalling that we're spending $45 million on a parade after kicking out the most vulnerable residents of our neighbourhood,' said local commissioner Jim Malec. A parade for whom? Unlike the parades following the Civil War, World Wars I and II, or even Desert Storm — all tied to clear victories — this event lacks a unifying triumph. 'The U.S. is not coming off any war victory,' said Carodine. 'Nobody had a parade for the kids coming back from Afghanistan. That would have made a lot more sense than what we're doing tomorrow.' America's recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left a mixed legacy. The Afghanistan conflict formally ended in 2021 under a deal negotiated by Trump and executed by President Joe Biden. Many veterans returned home quietly, without recognition or celebration. For some, this parade is a missed opportunity — one that honours political ambition more than military service.
United News of India
36 minutes ago
- United News of India
Mumbai to become global education hub as top universities receive LoIs
New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country, is all set to become a world-class education hub with the Government on Friday paving the way for five globally renowned universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Italy to establish campuses in the city. At an event held in Mumbai today, Dharmendra Pradhan Union Education Minister issued Letters of Intent (LoIs) to the prestigious institutions including University of York (UK), University of Aberdeen (UK), University of Western Australia (Australia), Illinois Institute of Technology (USA) and Instituto Europeo Di Design (IED) (Italy), as per a statement issued here. The move is part of the vision outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and it will help to elevate India's higher education landscape and attract students from both within the country and abroad, said Pradhan at the event 'Mumbai Rising: Creating an International Education City'. These top-tier universities will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a range of disciplines, including Business, Economics, Computer Science, Public Health, Data Science, Design, and more, said the Minister. Pradhan also asserted that 'The establishment of these foreign campuses in India will provide students with opportunities to pursue world-class education while significantly reducing the financial burden of studying abroad. India is on its way to becoming a preferred study destination.' Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, emphasised the immense value these global institutions will bring to the state, noting that the NEP 2020 has paved the way for top international universities to establish a presence in India. 'This is a game-changer for talented Indian students who faced barriers in accessing quality international education due to affordability and geographical constraints. Now, they can study at globally recognized institutions without leaving the country,' he said. The universities receiving LoIs are all ranked among the top 500 in the QS World University Rankings. Notably, the University of Western Australia plans to establish two campuses—one in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai and another in Chennai. This is the first-time foreign universities will establish a presence in Mumbai/Navi Mumbai, with some expected to set up campuses in the upcoming Education City in Navi Mumbai under the UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023. In addition to the five universities already set to establish campuses in Mumbai, talks are ongoing with five more global institutions, said the statement. Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), highlighted the regulations that enable seamless collaboration between global institutions and Indian universities, fostering a dynamic learning environment for the country's vast talent pool.
