India will not tolerate nuke blackmail: Sanjay Jha-led delegation in Singapore

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Singapore, May 27 (IANS) The all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha, on Tuesday, conveyed that India will give a fitting reply if there is a terrorist attack on its soil and will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail.During their meeting with Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs of Singapore, the parliamentarians highlighted the importance of Operation Sindoor and the fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.Condemning all acts of terrorism, Sim Ann extended Singapore’s support to India in the fight against terrorism. She further stated that Singapore and India are close partners and will continue efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, according to the Indian High Commission in Singapore.Meanwhile, during the engagement, Jha briefed the Singaporean side on India’s stance on the events following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor, and the ‘new normal’ in strategy against terrorism.He highlighted that the Indian delegation brings representatives of different political parties together to convey the nation’s united resolve against terrorism.”The delegation members conveyed that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam was an attempt to disturb the trajectory of peace, development, and normalcy in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India deemed it essential that the perpetrators and planners of the April 22 terror attack be brought to justice. In response to this heinous act of terror, India launched Operation Sindoor, specifically targeted against the terrorist infrastructure. India’s response was measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible,” said the Indian High Commission in Singapore in a statement.”The delegation members requested Singapore’s support in the fight against terrorism, particularly at multilateral fora like the United Nations and Financial Action Task Force. As close friends and partners, India and Singapore will continue to work closely on regional and global issues, including on the issue of terrorism.” the statement added.Later in the day, the Jha-led delegation met with senior representatives from the Singaporean government, academia, media and businesses, briefing the interlocutors on the developments since the Pahalgam attack.The delegates appreciated the presence of Singapore’s Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and Members of Parliament Vikram Nair and Saktiandi Supaat, and their support towards India in fighting terrorism.”Our all-party parliamentary delegation held wide-ranging discussions with senior representatives from the Singaporean government, academia, media, and business. We briefed interlocutors on developments following the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and India’s resolute new normal in combating terrorism. We thank Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and MPs Vikram Nair and Saktiandi Supaat for their presence and support in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the global fight against terrorism,” Jha posted on X.The delegation led by Jha includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Hemang Joshi and Pradan Baruah, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and Former Indian Ambassador to France Mohan Kumar.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Israeli army intercepts missile launched from Yemen

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Jerusalem, May 27 (IANS) The Israeli military said that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel after warning sirens were activated in some areas in the West Bank.No injuries or damage have been reported, Xinhua news agency reported.Earlier on Sunday, Israel’s aerial defence systems intercepted a missile launched by Houthi forces in Yemen, the Israeli military said in a statement.The missile triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea area and settlements in the occupied West Bank, sending millions to shelters around midday.Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported no casualties.Despite pledging to halt attacks on US vessels, the Houthi forces in Yemen continue to target Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.In response, Israel has carried out a series of airstrikes in Yemen, including one earlier this month in the capital Sanaa, which caused multiple fatalities and damaged the main international airport.Yemen’s Houthis also on Sunday announced that the group had launched a hypersonic ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli defence systems earlier in the day.”The rocket forces carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport, using a hypersonic ballistic missile,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.Sarea said the group would “continue enforcing a ban on air traffic to and from Ben Gurion Airport,” referring to repeated Houthi attacks that have prompted several airlines to delay or reroute flights to avoid rocket strikes targeting Israel.He noted that the Houthis would escalate their military operations further unless Israel halts its assault on the Gaza Strip and lifts the blockade.The Israeli defence forces wrote on the social media platform X that sirens had sounded across Israel following a “projectile” fired from Yemen.Israeli army radio later confirmed that the projectile had been intercepted. No casualties or damage were reported.Since November 2023, the Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, has been targeting Israel and Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza.–IANSint/jk/

South Korea: Ex-PM Han, ex-Dy PM Choi slapped with exit ban in martial law probe

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Seoul, May 27 (IANS) South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok have been banned from leaving the country as suspects in the alleged insurrection case related to former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law attempt, police said on Tuesday.The exit ban was reportedly imposed on Han and Choi around the middle of this month.The police’s special investigation unit handling the high-profile case called in Han, Choi and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Monday for questioning for about 10 hours about their alleged involvement in Yoon’s martial law declaration on December 3 last year. Lee was slapped with the exit ban earlier in December.The former ministers were reportedly grilled about whether they made false statements about the process of receiving martial law-related documents during a Cabinet meeting convened by Yoon on the night of December 3, as police have completed an analysis of surveillance footage of the presidential office’s Cabinet meeting room and hallway.Han has denied his charges, saying in February that he only realised he had been carrying the martial law declaration document in the back pocket of his suit after the decree was rescinded by an Assembly vote, Yonhap news agency reported.Choi, who is suspected of having received a memo from Yoon ordering a budget for an emergency legislative body during the December 3 Cabinet meeting, has said that someone had handed him a “folded note” but he was too overwhelmed at the time to read it.Police also questioned Lee over allegations that Yoon had ordered him to cut off the power and water supply at major local media outlets, though he testified earlier that Yoon did not give such orders.Earlier on Monday, South Korean police had detected signs of some call records of a secure phone held by Yoon Suk Yeol being remotely deleted, just days after his failed martial law attempt.The records of Yoon’s calls with Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, and Kim Bong-sik, former chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were deleted on December 6, three days after Yoon’s martial law declaration, according to the official at the police’s special investigation team.Police also launched an investigation on charges of destruction of evidence but have yet to narrow down a suspect.–IANSint/jk/rad

Op Sindoor Outreach: Supriya Sule-led delegation concludes Qatar visit, heads to South Africa

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Doha, May 27 (IANS) A multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule concluded its visit to Qatar, marking the completion of the first leg of a four-nation outreach tour aimed at projecting India’s united stand against terrorism.According to a press release issued by the Embassy of India in Doha, “Qatar was the first leg of the four-nation visit of the delegation planned following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and the subsequent developments.”During the two-day visit, the Indian delegation held high-level meetings with key Qatari dignitaries including Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of State for Interior Affairs; and Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council.The delegation also participated in a roundtable discussion with scholars and policy experts at the Middle East Council for Global Affairs and met editorial teams from leading newspapers such as Al Sharq and Peninsula.A special community reception was held on May 26, where Indian expatriates expressed solidarity with India’s anti-terrorism efforts.The Indian side emphasised New Delhi’s “zero-tolerance policy towards cross-border terrorism” and explained that “Operation Sindoor was calibrated, targeted and proportionate, demonstrating India’s commitment to countering terrorism without escalating tensions.”The delegation also called for an end to distinctions between terrorists and their backers and highlighted the urgency of dismantling cross-border terror infrastructure.The Qatari leadership reiterated its own zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and condemned the Pahalgam attack. The Indian delegation thanked Qatar for its swift condemnation and diplomatic support.The press release noted that “Qatar MOFA had issued a statement on April 23 expressing strong condemnation of the attack in Pahalgam,” and mentioned that bilateral conversations were held between Qatar’s Amir HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 6, followed by discussions between the Qatari and Indian foreign ministers on May 7.The delegation praised the Indian community in Qatar for upholding values of “tolerance, pluralism, and unity” and resisting divisive narratives.Members of the delegation include Supriya Sule (MP), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (MP), Manish Tewari (MP), Anurag Thakur (MP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (MP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (MP), former ministers Anand Sharma and V. Muraleedharan, and Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin.The delegation is now headed to South Africa for the second leg of its diplomatic mission.–IANSrs/dpb

UK: 50 injured as car rams into crowd in Liverpool Premier League win

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Liverpool, May 27 (IANS) At least 50 people were injured, including four children, after a car ploughed into a massive gathering of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title win in the city centre. Of the injured, 27 have been hospitalised, with one child and one adult reported to be in serious condition.The horrifying incident took place on Water Street just after 6 p.m. on Monday as celebrations were winding down. Videos circulating on social media show the car speeding through crowds lining the street, at one point swerving slightly away from the densest group of people.Eyewitnesses described the car initially halting after striking some victims, only for the driver to accelerate again, hitting dozens more.One eyewitness, Rashid, said, “People rushed toward the car and started smashing its windows, but the driver kept going.”The car eventually came to a stop, where an enraged group of fans surrounded it. Police officers had to intervene to protect the driver and maintain order at the scene.The driver, a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area, was arrested at the scene.Police confirmed that he is believed to be the sole person responsible and that no other individuals are currently being sought in connection with the incident. Authorities have also ruled out terrorism as a motive.Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jenny Sims said, “At just after 6 o’clock this evening, as the parade was drawing to a close, we received reports that a car had been in collision with a number of pedestrians on Water Street in Liverpool city centre. A number of people have been injured and were taken to hospital. In addition, a large number of people of all ages were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.”Sims urged the public not to speculate or spread misinformation, stating, “Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media… I can tell you that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it.””The incident is not currently being treated as terrorism,” he added.Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident, describing the scenes as “appalling” and extended his thoughts to those injured or affected.”The scenes in Liverpool are appalling — my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” Starmer wrote in a post on X.”I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident. I’m being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate,” he added.–IANSint/sd/

Powerful display of solidarity: Ravi Shankar Prasad lauds Indian diaspora in France during Op Sindoor Outreach

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Paris, May 27 (IANS) In a significant global outreach campaign under Operation Sindoor, an all-party parliamentary delegation led by senior BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad engaged with the Indian community in France, reaffirming India’s unwavering stance against terrorism.The delegation arrived in Paris on Sunday evening with a mission to convey India’s unequivocal message of zero tolerance toward terrorism and strengthen international understanding of the country’s counter-terror posture.Taking to the social media platform X, Ravi Shankar Prasad shared a powerful moment from the visit: “Along with my delegation colleagues, I engaged with the vibrant Indian community in France, reaffirming India’s unwavering stance against terrorism. The diaspora’s powerful display of solidarity was both impressive and deeply emotional.”The Indian Embassy in France also posted about the delegation’s engagements, stating, “The All Party Indian Parliamentary Delegation had an in-depth and interactive discussion with experts from various French think-tanks. The think tanks were briefed on India’s strong and clear message against terrorism.”These discussions focused on India’s recent counter-terrorism operations, including the strategic objectives of Operation Sindoor, which was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack.The nine-member delegation includes a diverse political representation: Daggubati Purandeswari (BJP), Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv SenaUBT), Ghulam Ali Khatana (BJP), Amar Singh (Congress), Samik Bhattacharya (BJP), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), former Union Minister M.J. Akbar, and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran.The visit to France marks the first leg of a six-nation tour that will also take the delegation to Italy, the UK, Germany, Denmark, and other European countries.The delegation’s bipartisan nature is a deliberate reflection of India’s unified stand on national security. By engaging with global stakeholders and diaspora communities, the group aims to reinforce India’s firm message that acts of terrorism, particularly those with cross-border roots, will face resolute and united resistance.After the Paris leg concludes, the delegation will continue its diplomatic outreach across Europe.–IANSrs/dpb