Tokyo, May 22 (IANS) An all-party parliamentary delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay…

Seoul, May 22 (IANS) North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, a day after a “serious” accident occurred during Pyongyang’s launch of a new warship.The launches took place as North Korea said earlier in the day that parts of a new naval destroyer were “crushed” during its launch ceremony Wednesday, with the North’s leader Kim Jong-un calling it a “criminal act” that could not be tolerated.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the North’s missile launches at about 9 a.m. from the Sondok area in South Hamgyong Province, without providing further details, such as the number of missiles fired.The military believes the missiles may have been fired from a maritime platform and are conducting a detailed analysis with US intelligence authorities.In February last year, North Korea test-fired a new surface-to-sea missile, named Padasuri-6. Authorities are looking into the possibility that the latest launch may have involved a variant of the anti-ship missile.The JCS said it is closely monitoring North Korean activities so that Pyongyang does not “misjudge” the current security situation, adding that it is maintaining the capabilities to “overwhelmingly” respond to any provocation.North Korea has staged a series of military demonstrations this month, including the launch of multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on May 8.The South’s military usually does not immediately announce North Korean cruise missile launches, compared with ballistic ones, which are banned under UN Security Council resolutions, Yonhap news agency reported.Earlier on May 17, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw anti-air combat and air raid drills by an air force flight group this week, stressing the need for constant and stronger war preparations across all military units.Kim gave the guidance during his visit on Thursday to the flight group under the Guards 1st Air Division of the Korean People’s Army, calling on “all the units of the entire army to bring about a radical turn in the preparations for war in constant war posture,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.The drills were aimed at familiarising flying corps as well as anti-air missile, radar, and electronic warfare subunits with the mission to detect, track, and destroy enemy cruise missiles and suicide drones, according to the KCNA.The drills included a test of a new-type long-range precision glide-guided bomb and a target attack exercise, as well as a training program for destroying enemy drones with a helicopter, precision bombing of naval targets, and a demonstration flight of strategic reconnaissance drones and multipurpose drones, the KCNA said.–IANSint/jk/skp

Athens, May 22 (IANS) An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck off the coast of Crete in Greece on Thursday, said the German Research Centre for Geosciences.The earthquake also prompted the European authorities to issue a tsunami warning. The tremor struck at 6.19 a.m, 58 km north-northeast of Elounda in northeastern Crete, and was 60 km deep, according to initial estimates.Reports suggest that there have been no injuries or damage, but the tremor was felt across Crete and nearby islands, rattling the locals.According to reports, several aftershocks followed, and the fire services of Crete have been put on alert.Speaking to national broadcaster ERT, the president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Efthimios Lekkas, stated that it was likely that the epicenter of the earthquake was located in the sea.Greece sits on major fault lines and experiences frequent seismic activity, and is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe, situated along a complex fault boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates.Earlier on Monday, schools in a region of Greece’s Evia Island were closed as authorities took precautionary measures after a series of earthquakes shook the area over the weekend.According to the National Observatory of Athens, at least three tremors — ranging in magnitude from 4.1 to 4.5 on the Richter scale — were recorded since Sunday, followed by numerous aftershocks. The epicenter was located in central Evia, near the village of Prokopi.The strongest quake, a 4.5-magnitude tremor in the early hours of Monday, was felt in the Greek capital, Athens, approximately 80 km to the south, Xinhua news agency reported.According to Giorgos Tsapourniotis, mayor of the Mantoudi-Limni-Agia Anna municipality, the tremors damaged at least 20 houses, shops, and a monastery.Another earthquake jolted Greece on May 13 with a magnitude of 6.1, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.–IANSint/scor/jk/skp

Tokyo, May 22 (IANS) Members of the all-party delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha began their visit to Japan by paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi in Edogawa, Tokyo.The delegation, including, Jha, BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, arrived in Tokyo on Thursday morning, marking the start of India’s massive diplomatic outreach on ‘Operation Sindoor.’Taking to X, Jha posted, “Commenced our visit by paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi Ji at Edogawa, Tokyo. This statue, unveiled by EAM S. Jaishankar in July 2024, stands as a symbol of peace and the enduring India–Japan friendship.””Honouring Bapu here in Japan reaffirms our shared commitment to his timeless principles of non-violence and harmony,” he added.This global campaign on Operation Sindoor will expose Pakistan’s role in fostering cross-border terrorism.Upon their arrival, the leaders were welcomed by Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George.Additionally, the delegation was also briefed by Ambassador Sibi George, who outlined the strategic roadmap for engagements with Japanese leadership and civil society.In a post on X, Aparajita Sarangi wrote, “Started off with briefing of the Delegation by Indian Ambassador to Japan at the Indian Embassy here. Also, we went to Edogawa in Tokyo and offered floral tributes before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.”The visit focuses on rallying support for India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.”India’s unwavering stand against cross-border terrorism, as seen in Operation Sindoor, will be highlighted in all engagements,” the Indian Embassy in Tokyo stated.This unprecedented global campaign is being coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It involves seven high-level delegations, comprising 59 Members of Parliament, former ministers, diplomats, and senior political leaders, travelling to 33 countries between May 21 and June 5.While Jha’s team covers East and Southeast Asia, MP Shrikant Shinde leads another group to the UAE, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Simultaneously, DMK leader Kanimozhi’s delegation is visiting Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain.The campaign’s primary objective is to present a unified Indian front against terrorism and internationally isolate Pakistan by highlighting its consistent support for terror networks.The MPs will engage with foreign governments, legislators, media, civil society, Indian diaspora, and international institutions, including the UN.They will present evidence of Pakistan’s backing of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and its continued sheltering of globally designated terrorists.The initiative represents one of India’s strongest and most cohesive foreign outreach efforts in recent years, aimed at building international consensus against state-sponsored terrorism.–IANSint/sd/

Abu Dhabi, May 22 (IANS) The second all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant…

Tokyo, May 22 (IANS) An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha arrived in Tokyo on Thursday morning, marking the start of India’s massive diplomatic outreach on ‘Operation Sindoor.’This global campaign will expose Pakistan’s role in fostering cross-border terrorism.The delegation includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid.After Japan, they will continue their high-level engagements in South Korea (May 24), Singapore (May 27), Indonesia (May 28), and Malaysia (May 31).Upon their arrival, the leaders were welcomed by Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George, who outlined the strategic roadmap for engagements with Japanese leadership and civil society.The visit focuses on rallying support for India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.”India’s unwavering stand against cross-border terrorism, as seen in Operation Sindoor, will be highlighted in all engagements,” the Indian Embassy in Tokyo stated.Sanjay Kumar Jha took to social media, writing, “Ohayo gozaimasu, Nihon! Good morning, Japan! Happy to have landed in Japan with an all-party Indian delegation. We seek continued support in India’s stand against cross-border terrorism, especially after the April 22 Pahalgam attack that took the lives of 26 innocent civilians.””India’s measured response in Operation Sindoor showed our zero-tolerance approach. Japan and India stand united for peace and democratic values,” he added.This unprecedented global campaign is being coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and involves seven high-level delegations, comprising 59 Members of Parliament, former ministers, diplomats, and senior political leaders, travelling to 33 countries between May 21 and June 5.While Jha’s team covers East and Southeast Asia, MP Shrikant Shinde leads another group to the UAE, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Simultaneously, DMK leader Kanimozhi’s delegation is visiting Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain.The campaign’s primary objective is to present a unified Indian front against terrorism and internationally isolate Pakistan by highlighting its consistent support for terror networks.The MPs will engage with foreign governments, legislators, media, civil society, Indian diaspora, and international institutions, including the UN.They will present evidence of Pakistan’s backing of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and its continued sheltering of globally designated terrorists.The initiative represents one of India’s strongest and most cohesive foreign outreach efforts in recent years, aimed at building international consensus against state-sponsored terrorism.–IANSint/sd/dpb

Jerusalem, May 22 (IANS) Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that the government’s decision in March…

Helsinki, May 22 (IANS) Technical-level talks involving Russia and Ukraine may take place as early as next week at the Vatican, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in an interview with national broadcaster Yle.
Stubb said on Wednesday evening that the talks would likely include representatives from the US and European countries, calling the potential meeting a positive step toward broader international engagement in efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.”It is very probable that next week, for example at the Vatican, there will be a technical meeting involving Ukrainians, Russians, Americans, and Europeans,” he added.He emphasised the growing role of European countries in the peace process.”We are entering a phase where Europe is also involved — and that is what we have been hoping for from the beginning,” Stubb said.On Monday, US President Donald Trump held a phone call with several European leaders including Stubb.The new Pope, Leo XIV, said earlier on Wednesday that the Holy See is ready to promote the peace process in Ukraine, including to host talks.US President Donald Trump welcomed this initiative.Talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul on May 16.On May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a more than two-hour phone call with Trump where the two leaders discussed ways of settling the conflict in Ukraine.Following this call, the US president spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a number of European leaders, with Stubb being among them, to inform them about his conversation with Putin.Stubb maintained that the US has not abandoned its role as a mediator in settling Russia’s war against Ukraine.”There are now more mediators,” he noted.”Earlier, only the US played that role. Now Europe is also participating.”Earlier on May 21, Pope Leo XIV said he was prepared to host the next round of Ukraine-Russia talks at the Vatican following a conversation with Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni.On May 16, Pope Leo XIV had proposed that Ukraine and Russia hold peace negotiations at the Vatican after Russian President Putin refused to fly to Istanbul to meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.The same day, Ukrainian and Russian delegations met for the first time in more than three years, sitting down for talks brokered by Turkey.Ukraine’s Defence Minister and head of its delegation, Rustem Umerov, said that the key topics were a 30-day ceasefire and POW exchanges.Turkey’s Foreign Minister later said the delegations agreed on a follow-up meeting and that the ceasefire conditions would be exchanged in writing.Several media outlets reported that during the talks Russia demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya regions. Moscow’s delegation allegedly threatened to seize Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy regions and stated that “the Russian Federation is prepared to fight forever”.Trump shared details of an earlier conversation with Russian President Putin, and the group discussed ongoing negotiations, a potential ceasefire, and steps toward a lasting peace in Ukraine.–IANSint/khz

Muscat/Tehran, May 22 (IANS) Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi has said that the fifth round of indirect talks between the US and Iran will be held in Rome on Friday. The announcement was made in a post on his official X account.

The talks, aimed at reviving stalled diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program and US sanctions, are being facilitated by Oman, Xinhua news agency reported. Four rounds have taken place since April, three in Muscat and one in Rome.Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran was still considering whether to participate in the upcoming talks in the face of “excessive demands” from the US, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.”We will stand against excessive demands at the negotiating table, but we have never abandoned diplomacy,” Araghchi said, adding that uranium enrichment would continue “with or without an agreement”.He reiterated that Iran is prepared to offer transparency regarding its nuclear activities, but expects negotiations to also address the lifting of US sanctions and embargoes imposed on the country.On Wednesday, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref told a Cabinet meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran that uranium enrichment on Iran’s soil is the “red line” of Iran’s establishment in its indirect talks with the US.US and Iranian officials have described the previous round of talks in Muscat on May 11 as “difficult but useful,” noting a generally positive tone despite persistent differences.US officials have in recent days called for Iran to fully halt uranium enrichment — an issue Tehran has repeatedly declared to be non-negotiable.Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed doubt this week over the talks.”We don’t think it will lead to any outcome. We don’t know what will happen,” he said.Denying Iran’s right to enrich uranium was “a big mistake,” Khamenei added.His remarks came after the US’ key negotiator in the talks, Steve Witkoff, voiced opposition to any Iranian uranium enrichment.”An enrichment programme can never exist in the state of Iran ever again. That’s our red line. No enrichment,” he told right-wing Breitbart News in an interview published on May 9.Iran has repeatedly insisted its right to maintain uranium enrichment was “non-negotiable”.On Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran would keep enriching uranium “with or without a deal” on his country’s nuclear programme.The Islamic republic currently enriches uranium to 60 per cent, far above the 3.67-per cent limit set in the 2015 deal but below the 90 per cent needed for a nuclear warhead.Trump effectively torpedoed the deal in 2018 during his first term, by unilaterally pulling out and reimposing sanctions on Iran’s oil exports and banking sector.A year later, Iran began rolling back its commitments to the agreement, which had offered sanctions relief in return for UN-monitored restrictions on its nuclear activities.The three European powers — party to the 2015 accord — are weighing whether to trigger the “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance. That option expires in October.Araghchi earlier this month warned of “irreversible” consequences if Britain, France and Germany moved to reimpose sanctions.–IANSint/khz

Jerusalem, May 22 (IANS) Israel’s military has said it intercepted a projectile launched from the Gaza Strip, as fighting escalated across the besieged enclave under its widening military campaign.
In a statement on Wednesday, the military said the projectile was fired from northern Gaza and intercepted by the Israeli Air Force.Air raid sirens sounded in the Lakhish area of southern Israel, Xinhua news agency reported.There were no reports of casualties.No group has claimed responsibility for the launch.The incident comes days after two rockets were fired from central Gaza on Sunday.Israel’s military said one was intercepted while the other landed in an open area.The Israeli military’s spokesperson Lt. Colonel Avichay Adraee warned residents of the northern areas of Gaza to head south for safety ahead of an imminent attack in response to the rocket fire.”The IDF will act with force in the area from which rockets were fired. Terror groups, especially Hamas, are responsible for the suffering of civilians. Your your own safety, head to the south,” Adraee said in his post.According to the Israel Defense Forces, a single projectile launched from the northern Gaza Strip was intercepted by the air defence after crossing into Israeli territory.The IDF confirmed there were no injuries in the incident and said it is continuing to investigate the details.The Ashkelon Municipality also reported that one rocket was intercepted and said no unusual incidents or damage were recorded in the city.The Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, stating it was carried out in response to what it called “the Zionist massacre against our Palestinian people”.In a statement, the group said it had “bombed Ashdod and Ashkelon with a barrage of rockets” as retaliation.The exchanges follow the launch of Israel’s latest offensive, Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which Palestinian health authorities said has killed hundreds in its first five days.The Gaza-based health authorities reported on Wednesday that 53,655 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its military campaign more than 19 months ago.–IANSint/khz