Washington, May 24 (IANS) The Trump administration has accused Columbia University of violating civil rights…

Addis Ababa, May 24 (IANS) Experts and policymakers have emphasised the need to ensure the…

United Nations, May 24 (IANS) India has declared that Pakistan-based terrorists cannot claim immunity from anti-terrorism action by asserting that they are civilians.

“Let us be clear: Protection of civilians should not serve as an argument for protection of UN-designated terrorists,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, told the UN Security Council on Friday. “Pakistan has repeatedly used the civilian cover to advance the cause of terrorism,” he said. Speaking at a Security Council debate on emerging threats to civilians and protecting them, Ambassador Harish dismissed Pakistan’s claims that civilians were targeted during Operation Sindoor by drawing attention to the open nexus between terrorists and the Pakistani government and military. “A nation that makes no distinction between terrorists and civilians has no credentials to speak about protecting civilians,” Harish said. “We just recently saw senior government, police, and military officials pay respects at the funeral of noted terrorists targeted by Operation Sindoor,” he added. Pakistan military’s top brass, including Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah and Major General Rao Imran, and Punjab Police Inspector General Usman Anwar were among those who attended the funerals of terorrists killed in the Operation Sindoor strikes, including Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a senior leader of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) who is designated a terrorist by the US government. Pakistan retaliated to the strikes on terrorists by deliberately shelling India’s border areas, killing more than 20 civilians,” Ambassador Harish said. “There was intentional targeting of places of worship, including gurudwaras, temples, and convents, as well as medical facilities,” he added. “To preach at this body after such behaviour is grossly hypocritical,” he said.”Regrettably, during armed conflict civilians, including women and children, are used as human shields for military operations and terrorist activities. Therefore, it is paramount that the international community resolves to take concrete actions towards the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions that have been previously adopted,” he added.India underscored that any attack on civilians and humanitarian workers is a grave violation of International Law, in particular International Humanitarian Law. The existing legal framework concerning the protection of civilians cannot be overlooked.”Respect for principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, should remain the basis for all actions taken by the Council for the protection of civilians.” –IANSal/khz

Berlin, May 23 (IANS) Reiterating India’s zero-tolerance for terrorism, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has said that the Pahalgam terror attack was meant to create fear psychosis in the minds of people, destroy tourism economy flourishing in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as create a religious discord between communities living in the country.EAM Jaishankar made the remarks while speaking at the DGAP’s Centre for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics and technology.He also added that no country in the world has approves of terrorism but rather condemned it.The EAM said that Germany also condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and said that India only targeted terrorists headquarters and training centres emanating from its neighbouring country Pakistan and the latter has used terrorism as a state-sponsored policy to pressurise India.Germany recognises India’s right to defend itself against terrorism, EAM Jaishankar said.India has zero tolerance for terrorism and will never give in to nuclear blackmail, he added on Friday after briefing Germany’s top leadership on the new approach to combating cross-border terror backed by Pakistan.EAM Jaishankar signalled there will be no room for third-party mediation in India’s dealings with Pakistan while addressing a news conference with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul in Berlin.He shared his remarks on how India and Germany can upgrade their ties as the two countries mark 25 years of their strategic partnership. He offered suggestions on collaboration in several areas to take the ties ahead.He said, “To be here early in the tenure of this government, so that we really lose no time in forging a pathway towards taking after 25 years to look at the next 25 years and see where we can take our relationship.”Listing down the challenges which the modern world has brought forth, such as the chips war, climate change, poverty, damage done by the Covid pandemic, among others.The EAM expressed confidence in the India-Germany ties to face them.He said, “The global picture is very challenging… for that I would argue that the partnership between India and Germany, and India and the European Union, of which Germany is a crucial and invaluable member, has acquired an importance and a salience much more than it has had before.”Sharing his engagements in Germany, the EAM noted that the time is ripe to think about the next 25 years and how we can fully realise the potential of India-Germany ties.Sharing his thoughts on what can be done to upgrade the relationship, EAM listed down areas of collaboration. The first area he highlighted was “A good start would be defence and security. We’ve had sort of an off and on relationship here. There have been times decades ago when there were actually active defence ties between us. Then for whatever reason, there’s a certain conservatism about taking it forward. But I have seen that in the last few years, once again, there is a realisation in both countries that there is something that we have to offer to each other. And the defence and security of both countries would be very much stronger through our cooperation. And we see this reflected. We see this reflected in exercises in the visits of German ships to the Indo-Pacific and to Indian ports. We see it reflected in enhanced export licensing practices, in discussions whether there can be further technology and equipment collaboration between our countries.”The second area he brought to attention was talent and mobility to meet demand and demographics.He highlighted that India’s demographic curve is in the right place to fashion a global workforce.The third area was technology and digital AI, and the fourth area being sustainability and green growth.He expressed optimism for trade ties to g to grow between the two countries and an Free Trade Agreement with the EU would help in that regard.He also shared the snippets from the event in a post on X. “A good interaction @dgapev this evening. Spoke about India and Germany coming closer to promote global stability, security and prosperity. Discussed new opportunities in the bilateral relationship, as well as with the European Union. Preparing for a stronger partnership in a multipolar world.”Earlier on Friday morning, EAM Jaishankar also conveyed to Chancellor Friedrich Merz India’s appreciation for Germany’s solidarity at the time when the country was responding to the Pahalgam attack.”India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail. And India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally,” EAM Jaishankar said.”There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard.”Wadephul said Germany was “appalled by the brutal terrorist attack” at Pahalgam last month and had “condemned this attack on civilians in the strongest terms”.He added: “Germany will support any fight against terrorism. Terrorism must never have a place anywhere in the world and this is why we will support everyone who has to fight terrorism.”EAM Jaishankar said he spoke to Wadephul on May 7, the day Operation Sindoor was launched to target terrorist infrastructure on Pakistani soil, and said India values Germany’s understanding that “every nation has a right to defend itself against terrorism”.Defence and security was a key part of the talks between the two Foreign Ministers, and EAM Jaishankar emphasised Germany’s importance as an important partner.Wadephul said the two countries share the joint goal of maintaining the rules-based world order.”India has a very special importance as a strong actor in security policy in a strategically important region,” Wadephul said.EAM Jaishankar, who is on a three-nation tour of Europe that has already taken him to the Netherlands and Denmark, met members of the German Bundestag or Parliament on Thursday and discussed “India’s firm commitment of combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations”.–IANSkhz/

Washington, May 23 (IANS) A US judge in the state of Massachusetts on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s order revoking Harvard University’s certification to enroll international students.
The court decision came a day after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cancelled Harvard’s certification to use the SEVIS system — Student and Exchange Visitor Information System — in an escalation of US President Donald Trump’s attack on the Ivy League school.The DHS decision had also told the university that foreign students on its rolls currently must transfer to another college or lose status. There are an estimated 780 Indian students and scholars at Harvard.”With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the university and its mission,” Harvard said in a lawsuit filed in this court on Friday morning. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”In a letter to the college’s community, Alan M. Garber, Harvard’s President, wrote, “We condemn this unlawful and unwarranted action.”He added that it “imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams”.The Trump administration has suspended all funding for the University and sought to revoke its tax-exempt status over its handling of the pro-Palestine protests and attacks on Jewish students. Trump has also gone against other major colleges as well such as Colombia University. The DHS had demanded information from Harvard on its 7,000 foreign students across its 13 schools, which was submitted. “Yet on May 22, DHS deemed Harvard’s response “insufficient,” without explaining why or citing any regulation with which Harvard failed to comply,” the lawsuit said.The court’s temporary block on the DHS order came within hours of the lawsuit.–IANSyrj/khz

New Delhi: Bangladesh is in for a difficult period ahead, given the current turmoil. In the past two days, the government led by Muhammad Yunus was exposed to several challenges with a major one involving Bangladesh’s consolidated military forces. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Wakar-uz-Zaman’s address to the officers on Wednesday (May 21) came at a time when tensions have heightened between the Bangladesh Army and Yunus regime over holding elections, law and order situation in the country and the creation of a Humanitarian Corridor to the Rakhine State of Myanmar.The proposed ‘Rakhine Corridor’ has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in Bangladesh with Zaman underscoring that Bangladesh Army will not allow anything that will affect the sovereignty and geographical stability of the country.Yunus, meanwhile, reportedly considered resignation from his post amid escalating political unrest. A meeting was held on Thursday evening at Chief Advisor’s official residence Jamuna State Guest House during which Yunus expressed his frustration, claiming that he has no intention to continue and wishes to resign.Student leaders turned political leaders, including Nahid Islam, Mahfuz Alam and Asif Sajib Bhuyian, held closed-door discussions with Yunus who claimed that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is now controlling judiciary, administration and street power, is accusing him of delaying the elections. Yunus reportedly said that would not like to hold a partisan election in such a situation, favouring one party to form the government.According to the BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the party has demanded the removal of interim government advisors Asif Mahmud, Shojib Bhuyain, Mahfuj Alam along with National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman.The party stated that, in order to uphold the neutrality of the interim government, these advisors must be relieved of their duties.Analysts believe that Yunus has been deflecting from the actual issues and appears to be delaying the General Election process. With no democratic mandate, Yunus, supported by the student advisors and pro-Pakistan hardline Islamist parties, is jeopardizing the polity of Bangladesh in the garb of pursuing reforms.”No doubt, without any political mandate, Yunus has been backsliding badly on democracy and reforms, increasingly suppressing opposition parties, stifling dissent, imposing restrictions on the media and supporting hardline pro-Pakistan, pro-Islamist lobbies, including Jamaat,” said one official.Yunus government’s recent actions paint a far more complicated and disturbing picture.According to experts, there is a veiled attempt to legitimise a sectarian extremist coalition under the guise of democracy. The primary goal of radical Islamists, including Jamaat and its allies, is to keep Yunus in power at any cost, as he is now their only hope for re-entering the state apparatus.Observers, however, believe that Yunus’ dream of holding onto power is rapidly collapsing.Under Yunus, Dhaka has quietly overseen the release of individuals affiliated with some of the deadliest militant outfits in South Asia, including Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and Hizb-ut-Tahrir.These groups have long been blacklisted not only by the Bangladeshi state but also by international counterterrorism frameworks. “Politically immature” Yunus released hundreds of ideologically-committed militants, many of whom retain digital access, sleeper network connections and sympathisers, risking the revival of dormant extremist cells, not just in Bangladesh but also within India’s vulnerable northeast.”Yunus is not independent but indebted to the West and pro-Pakistan radical Islamists. It will be better to see Bangladesh without Yunus who is highly dependent on a small handful of men and the West who propped him up. Many of his current decisions have deeply split the Bangladeshi society. It is beyond his competence to handle Bangladesh,” said one analyst.(The writer is an expert on South Asia and Eurasia. He was formerly with Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views expressed are personal)–IANS/as

Berlin, May 23 (IANS) Reaffirming that India has zero tolerance for terrorism, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday said that the country will never give in to nuclear blackmail and will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally.

The strong statement came during a joint presser addressed by EAM Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, during which Berlin expressed full support to India following the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, asserting that New Delhi has every right to defend itself against terrorism.”I come to Berlin in the immediate aftermath of India responding to the Pahalgam terror attack. India has zero tolerance for terrorism. India will never give in to nuclear blackmail, and India will deal with Pakistan purely bilaterally. There should be no confusion in any quarter in that regard. We also value Germany’s understanding that every nation has the right to defend itself against terrorism,” said EAM Jaishankar.During their meeting, both ministers discussed making the strategic partnership between the two countries “stronger, deeper and closer” besides identifying areas of “further promise and potential”.”We were all appalled by the brutal terrorist attack on India on April 22. We condemn this attack on civilians in the strongest terms. Our deepest sympathy goes out to all victims and their families. After military attacks on both sides and India, of course, has every right to defend itself against terrorism… the fact that a truce is in place is something we appreciate very much,” Wadephul remarked.He also asserted further: “What is important now is that this truce remains stable, that dialogue can happen to find bilateral solutions.”EAM Jaishankar said that he is looking forward to welcome Wadephul in India.”Exchanged views on issues from our immediate neighbourhood to global concerns and challenges. Look forward to welcoming him in India,” he stated in a post on X after the meeting.Germany is the last leg of EAM Jaishankar’s three nation tour which began with a visit to the Netherlands on May 19.He also paid an official visit to Denmark before arriving in Germany.During his visit, the EAM met with the top leadership of the countries and held discussions with his counterparts on the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and global matters of mutual interest.–IANS/as

Sydney, May 23 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns on Friday toured the regions north of Sydney that have been inundated by widespread flooding following five consecutive days of torrential rainfall.Four bodies have been retrieved from floodwaters while a fifth person has been missing since Wednesday. As of Friday afternoon, more than 50,000 people remained cut off by flooding, and emergency services were continuing to conduct rescue operations by boat and helicopter.As of Friday afternoon, emergency services had conducted 736 flood rescue operations in total, Xinhua news agency reported.The severe weather system that brought the torrential rainfall moved south on Friday and, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), could move out of NSW by midnight.Despite the easing conditions, authorities have warned that river levels could continue to rise.As around 50,000 residents across the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions are urged to prepare to evacuate, experts are warning that entering floodwaters poses one of the most significant threats to life.”Four-wheel drives may provide a false sense of security when attempting to cross floodwater, but research shows that 75 per cent of all floodwater-related fatalities in the past 15 years are associated with these vehicles,” Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing said in a statement.He cited research showing that 84 per cent of motorists ignore road closure signs, and that young people, particularly men under the age of 29, make up the majority of flood-related deaths.Research conducted after the devastating 2022 floods in northern NSW and southern Queensland revealed that nearly two-thirds of floodwater fatalities occur within 20 km of people’s homes, underscoring the dangers residents face in familiar surroundings.Friday marked the sixth consecutive day of heavy rainfall in the Mid North Coast region, driving record-breaking flooding and having caused two deaths.Gissing noted that the Manning River at Taree in the Mid North Coast region has exceeded its historic 1929 flood peak of 6 metres, reaching levels not seen in centuries. He urged residents to avoid floodwaters, warning that road surfaces can be swiftly washed away, creating life-threatening hazards.”You never know what is under the surface. Floodwater can easily wash away the surface of the road, and in seconds, your life is in danger as you’re off the road, into the current and your vehicle is sinking,” he said.While the impact of climate change on this specific event is still being assessed, Gissing pointed out that warmer temperatures increase the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture, making intense rainfall events more likely.He stressed the need for greater investment in flood mitigation and risk-based urban planning to reduce exposure to future disasters.–IANSint/jk/vd

Singapore, May 23 (IANS) Singapore’s new cabinet was sworn in on Friday, following the ruling…

Hanoi, May 23 (IANS) The Holy Buddha Relics sent from India were enshrined at an ancient Buddhist temple Phuc Son pagoda in Bac Giang Province of Vietnam, on Friday. The relics were received with deep reverence and warmth by the local people, province officials, and monks.

“Thousands of people in Bac Giang gathered in a solemn procession to escort the sacred Holy Sarnath Relics of the Buddha to Phuc Son Pagoda, Vietnam — an expression of deep reverence for the compassionate father, Shakyamuni Buddha,” the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) posted on X.Responding to a formal request from the Vietnamese government after receiving a recommendation from the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the Government of India has decided to extend the enshrinement of sacred relics of the Buddha in Vietnam beyond May 21, Vietnamese local media reported on Friday.Reports highlighted that the relics, which were supposed to return to India on Friday, will now remain in Vietnam until June 2 as a result of a direct appeal by the Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính to his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasising the deep cultural and religious significance they hold for the Vietnamese Buddhists.On Wednesday, the sacred relics of Lord Buddha were enshrined at the famous Buddhist temple of Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh province of Vietnam. A large number of devotees, including provincial leaders, welcomed the relics as monks from India and Vietnam chanted traditional prayers.”Beautiful moments at the exposition of the Holy Sarnath Relics of the Buddha at Bai Dinh Pagoda, Vietnam. From the elderly to young children, everyone eagerly gathered to pay their respects and witness the Sacred relics of the Buddha with their own eyes. Equally moving was the presence of dedicated volunteers, service teams, security personnel, and food providers—always ready to assist, ensuring a smooth and respectful experience for all devotees,” the IBC stated.Thousands of people had also paid their respects at the exposition of the relics in Tam Chuc Pagoda.The holy relics were brought from India on May 2 by an Indian delegation led by Union Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju which also included Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh and senior monks and officials.The holy relics, brought to Vietnam as part of the UN Day of Vesak celebrations were earlier displayed at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, then in Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh province, Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam, and Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh province of Vietnam–IANSint/scor/as