'Why On Earth...': Pro-Putin Fico Loses Cool At Europe For 'Obstructing' Russia-Ukraine Peace
Slovak PM Robert Fico lashed out at European leaders for blocking peace efforts in Ukraine. In a fiery statement, he questioned why Europe was against talks that could end the war. Fico said the EU's stance was pushing the region closer to prolonged conflict with Russia.#fico #slovakia #putin #russia #europe #russiaukrainewar #eu #zelensky #ukraine
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The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Israel strikes Iran's nuclear sites, Iran retaliates with missile barrages
Israel launched blistering attacks on the heart of Iran's nuclear and military structure on Friday (June 14, 2025), deploying warplanes and drones previously smuggled into the country to assault key facilities and kill top generals and scientists — a barrage it said was necessary before its adversary got any closer to building an atomic weapon. Iran retaliated late on Friday by unleashing scores of ballistic missiles on Israel, where explosions flared in the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below. In a second round of attacks, sirens and explosions, possibly from Israeli interceptors, could be heard booming in the sky over Jerusalem early Saturday. The Israeli military urged civilians, already rattled by the earlier wave of missiles, to head to shelter. The Iranian outlet Nour News, which has close links with the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said a wave was being launched. Associated Press journalists in Tel Aviv could see at least two Iranian missiles hit the ground, but there was no immediate word of casualties. A hospital in Tel Aviv treated seven people wounded in the second Iranian barrage; all but one of them had light injuries. Also Read | Saudi Arabia says Israel Iran strikes 'violation of international laws' Meanwhile, the sound of explosions and Iranian air defense systems firing at targets echoed across central Tehran shortly after midnight on Saturday, and an Associated Press reporter could hear air raid sirens near their home. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a recorded message Friday: 'We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed." Iran's U.N. ambassador said 78 people were killed and more than 320 wounded in Israeli attacks. Israel's paramedic services said 34 people were wounded in the barrage on the Tel Aviv area, including a woman who was critically injured after being trapped under rubble. In Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv, an Associated Press journalist saw burned out cars and at least three damaged houses, including one where the front was nearly entirely torn away. U.S. ground-based air defense systems in the region were helping to shoot down Iranian missiles, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the measures. Israel's ongoing airstrikes and intelligence operations and Iran's retaliation raised concerns about all-out war between the countries and propelled the region, already on edge, into even greater upheaval. Israel had long threatened such a strike, and successive American administrations sought to prevent it, fearing it would ignite a wider conflict across the Middle East and possibly be ineffective at destroying Iran's dispersed and hardened nuclear program. Also Read | European leaders call for de-escalation and diplomacy as Israel and Iran conflict flares up But a confluence of developments triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack — plus the reelection of U.S. President Donald Trump — created the conditions that allowed Israel to finally follow through on its threats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. was informed in advance of the attack. On Thursday, Iran had been censured by the U.N.'s atomic watchdog for not complying with obligations meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Countries in the region condemned Israel's attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides. The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Friday afternoon at Iran's request. In a letter to the council, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the killing of its officials and scientists 'state terrorism" and affirmed his country's right to self-defense. Israel's military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets. Its Mossad spy agency positioned explosive drones and precision weapons inside Iran ahead of time, and used them to target Iranian air defenses and missile launchers near Tehran, according to two security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. It was not possible to independently confirm the officials' claims. Among the key sites Israel attacked was Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. It also appeared to strike a second, smaller nuclear enrichment facility in Fordo, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southeast of Tehran, according to an Iranian news outlet close to the government that reported hearing explosions nearby. Israel said it struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan, too, and said it destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Iran confirmed the strike at Isfahan. Israel military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the Natanz facility was 'significantly damaged' and that the operation was 'still in the beginning.' U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. He said all the electrical infrastructure and emergency power generators were destroyed, as well as a section of the facility where uranium was enriched up to 60%. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to have been hit, but the loss of power could have damaged the infrastructure there, he said. The first wave of strikes had given Israel 'significant freedom of movement' in Iran's skies, clearing the way for further attacks, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the attack with the media. The official said Israel is prepared for an operation that could last up to two weeks, but that there was no firm timeline. Among those killed were three of Iran's top military leaders: one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri; one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami; and the head of the Guard's ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran confirmed all three deaths, significant blows its governing theocracy that will complicate efforts to retaliate. Khamenei said other top military officials and scientists were also killed. Netanyahu said the attack had been months in the making. In a video statement sent to journalists Friday, he said he ordered plans for the attack last November, soon after the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, one of Iran's strongest proxies. Netanyahu said the attack was planned for April but was postponed. In its first response Friday, Iran fired more than 100 drones at Israel. Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, and it was not immediately clear whether any got through. Israel's military said it called up reservists and began stationing troops throughout the country as it braced for further retaliation from Iran or Iranian proxy groups. Trump urged Iran on Friday to reach a deal with the U.S. on its nuclear program, warning on his Truth Social platform that Israel's attacks 'will only get worse.' 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' he wrote. On Wednesday, the U.S. pulled some American diplomats from Iraq's capital and offered voluntary evacuations for the families of U.S. troops in the wider Middle East. On Friday, the U.S. began shifting military resources in the region, including ships, as Israel prepared for more retaliation, two U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Officials in Washington had cautioned Israel against an attack earlier in the week, so as not to disrupt U.S. negotiations with Iran over its nuclear enrichment program. They stressed Friday that the U.S. had not been involved in the attack, and warned against any retaliation targeting U.S. interests or personnel. Israeli leaders cast the attack as necessary to head off an imminent threat that Iran would build nuclear bombs, though it remains unclear how close the country is to achieving that or whether Iran had actually been planning a strike. Iran maintains its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only. "This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival,' Mr. Netanyahu claimed as he vowed to pursue the attack for as long as necessary to 'remove this threat.' Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East but has never acknowledged having such weapons.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Jaishankar emphasises value of trust, says France in many ways is India's most trusted partner in Europe
Marseille [France], June 14 (ANI): Europe is now more self-aware, strategically autonomous and thinks about global issues from European perspective rather than a collective and all this has policy implications, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday and noted that France is in many ways is India's most trusted partner in Europe. Speaking at the Raisina Mediterranean 2025 conference, Jaishankar said that India and France have had willingness to 'stratagise for ourselves'. He laid emphasis on the value of trust and pointed to the need of resilient and reliable supply chains. 'I totally agree that one of the things which have gone with the world is a kind of cost determinism by which choices have been made. The result of the cost determinism is that we have ended up with an over concentration of capabilities in one geography which is creating problems for everybody is not just price points and economic efficiencies. Particularly in the digital era...I think there are many other sensitivities, embedded in products and services. Which makes a concept like trust very important. Trust means intuitively we are comfortable with each other. How do you get that? Sometimes by having similar values, sometimes by saying that in my difficulty you supported or who was willing to go the extra mile for our security needs,' he said 'It makes a difference, we are in Europe right now. No question for us that in many, many ways France is our most trusted partner. It didn't happen because one day people got up in the morning to choose this. It was over a set of experiences. We have just come out of some security episodes right now. When I look at who stood by us, who will I trust, with whom I am comfortable, it will surely have consequences on my decisions,' he added. Jaishankar, who is in France as part of his three-nation visit, earlier said that India and EU have set the goal of trying to complete the Free Trade Agreement by end this year and noted that the negotiators and the stakeholders are reacting to a global environment where the importance of doing this FTA has become much more. Jaishankar said India also seeks to conclude a defence and security partnership with the European Union. 'We are putting so much focus on Europe because we can see a quantum jump into multipolarity. There's a realisation in Europe that a lot of its problems and solutions will have to be analysed and thought through by Europe itself. Today's Europe is more self-aware, self-reliant and strategically autonomous, and will want to look for partners who can work with Europe in that respect... That gives an additional impetus to India-Europe relations, which were evolutionary, but I predict a very sharp acceleration in that,' he said. 'In Brussels, we made strong progress in our Free Trade Agreement negotiations. We seek to conclude a defence and security partnership with the European Union. We are looking at a space agreement. We have individual agreements with the states of Europe on talent mobility. We are now trying to see if we can get across an understanding across the entire Union... There is a lot of discussion about connectivity because if you're going to do more business and we're all trying to de-risk and stabilise the global economy, connectivity is very much part of that conversation,' he added. He spoke about the progress in FTA negotiations. 'We have set the goal of trying to complete it by this year. I'm told that half the chapters are done, and for the remaining half, considerable progress has been made. Our trade ministers have met 3 times in the last 6 weeks. We will see another round of meetings by the end of this month. There is a certain urgency and energy that is different. The negotiators and the stakeholders are reacting to a global environment where the importance of doing this FTA has become much more,' he added. India and France have completed 25 years of strategic partnership. The bilateral relations with France are rooted in deep trust and commitment, and the two countries cooperate closely across all domains of strategic and contemporary relevance besides sharing similar outlook on many regional and global issues. (ANI)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Kashmir parties condemn Israel's attack on Iran
File photo: J&K CM Omar Abdullah (Picture credit: ANI) SRINAGAR: Political parties in Kashmir, including the governing National Conference, condemned Israel's attack on Iran on Friday, saying 'the silence of influential countries like the US on this issue is alarming'. J&K CM Omar Abdullah said Iran had not provoked Israel in any manner to justify its offensive and this amounted to waging war against another nation. 'What Israel has done is very similar to what Russia did in Ukraine,' he told reporters here. 'The world raised its voice against Russia and launched campaigns condemning its actions. But when Israel attacks Iran, global powers, including the US and European countries, remain silent. If it is wrong for one country to invade another in Russia's case, then it is equally unjustified for Israel to attack Iran,' he said. Omar said there would be immediate repercussions of the attack. 'It affects our fuel prices, impacts the stock market, disrupts flight routes to the West, and more importantly, it stirs public sentiment.' Slamming Israel, NC MP Aga Ruhullah said: 'Iran, like any sovereign nation, now has every right to defend itself and take full, punishing revenge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The Zionist regime should pay for its crimes in Gaza, for its bloodlust, for its massacres.' PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X that Israel's attack is yet another brazen act by a state that 'appears to have gone rogue'. 'The silence of the global community, particularly western powers led by the United States, is both alarming and telling. This silence amounts to tacit approval. In the case of India-Pakistan tensions, the US never fails to assert that its intervention has been crucial in preventing escalation. Yet, when it comes to Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza or its latest strike on Iran, that same urgency is conspicuously missing,' Mehbooba said. She said equally disturbing is the 'deafening silence of the so-called Muslim countries, who remain shamelessly non-existent in the face of such grave injustice'. People's Conference's Imran Reza Ansari said the 'calculated act of aggression of Israel is not merely a political provocation but an assault on the very ideals of justice, sovereignty, and intellectual resistance'.
