Middle East

French praise Iran missile retaliation against Israel

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Pro-Palestinians in France gathered the day after what was reported to be the first peaceful night in Gaza in six months.

The reason for this was that the night before Iran had launched a historic missile retaliation against Israel, which prevented Tel Aviv from continuing its attempt at genocide and ethnic cleansing.

At the demonstration, there was widespread approval, support and even gratitude and admiration for Tehran’s counterattack against the unprecedented bombing assassination at the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.

I’m not an anti-Semite, and as a Muslim, I want us all to live together peacefully. But I see Iran’s attack as something good on their part.


Iran is the only major country which has had the courage to attack Israel and defend Palestine’s innocent civilians.


This war can easily stop if Israel can finally realize that they are attempting genocide.


Demonstrator 01

Those who are occupiers do not have the right to legitimate defense.


But Iran does have the right and they use it to defend Gaza as well.


Israel bombs and assassinates people constantly. How can people forget about what Israel has done?


Demonstrator 02

Protesters contrasted Iran’s actions with those of the French foreign minister last week.

After mentioning the possibility of placing sanctions on Israel over Gaza, he immediately backtracked the next day in front of Parliament.

The French government is an accomplice in the genocide that Israel is waging right now.


Why aren’t there any sanctions despite all these deaths? And when France talks so much about defending human rights, it is simply shameful.


Demonstrator 03

French forces claim to have contributed to Israel’s defense.

In a major blow to Israeli hopes of escalating the violence, Washington has already refused to join any potential Israeli attack on Iran.

It’s uncertain if the cycle of Israeli assassination and Iranian retaliation is now concluded.

Nevertheless, Israel has already returned to its campaign of indiscriminate bombing and mass murder in Gaza despite six months of global outrage, the murder of 34,000 Palestinians and 76,000 injuries.

Will Israel pursue an even wider war?

Will more Arab nations be inspired to join the cause of defending Gaza?

What is certain, however, is that many are happy that, for one night at least, the guns aimed at Gaza civilians finally fell silent.

India

Paris Or Pisa, Milind Soman Finds "Fitter Indians Around The World"

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Paris Or Pisa, Milind Soman Always Finds 'Fitter Indians Around The World'

Milind Soman with a fan. (courtesy: milindrunning)

New Delhi:

Milind Soman has been one of the celebrity poster boys for a healthy lifestyle in the country for years now. The model-actor has devoted his social media timelines to encouraging fans to be physically active. A case in point is his “push-ups for selfie” challenge, where he asks fans to perform push-ups if they want a selfie with him. Milind Soman, who was in Paris for a marathon recently, has shared a bunch of images of his fans pulling off the challenge, on the streets of Europe. The images feature people performing the challenge with the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the background. Sharing the images, Milind Soman said: “So happy to meet fitter Indians around the world. #pushups4selfie whether Paris or Pisa! Push-ups every day, start with one set.  #Take1minute.” 

It comes as no surprise that fans had a lot to say about the post. Highlighting the uniqueness of the trend, one fan said: “If travelling anywhere in the world, I see people doing push-ups I’ll know you’re around.” Another user said: “You look like my PE teacher who used to encourage us to do push-ups.” A third user said: “I  would just like to bump into you for this push-up thing. Love your enthusiasm for fitness,” while another wrote: “Love this tradition. Waiting for my turn for a push-up selfie.” Speaking for most of us, one Milind Soman fan said: “BRB, improving my push-up form just so that you’ll give me a selfie.” “This will be me one day!! I learned to do 20 push-ups just because you’ve been motivating people!” said another.

“In front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you made people lean and even made them do push-ups… even if it’s just for a selfie, At least people are doing it. great awareness,” gushed a fan. Check out the images here:

Before this, Milind Soman shared a bunch of images with his wife Ankita Konwar from Paris. From participating in a marathon to capturing moments in front of the Eiffel Tower and wandering the charming streets of the city, their pictures exude love and romance. There are also several frames of the couple stealing a kiss. Sharing the images, Milind Soman wrote: “ Paris- the city of love, before, after and in between. One more marathon for Ankita Konwar and me, highly recommended, great weather, tough route, and French support now off to see the museums and more food !!!!! Have fun people,” read the caption attached to the post.” Cue the collective “awws”.

Milind Soman married Ankita Konwar in 2018. Milind Soman is best known for his work in the music video Made In India, and movies such as 16 December, Chef and Bajirao Mastani.

Top News

Gold prices firm up amid rising Iran-Israel tensions

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Gold futures, maturing on June 5, 2024, stood at Rs 72,813 per 10 grams on the MCX, up Rs 536 or 0.74 per cent from the previous day’s close of Rs 72,277.

Published Date – 16 April 2024, 01:03 PM


Gold prices firm up amid rising Iran-Israel tensions


New Delhi: Gold prices recorded an increase on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) on Tuesday as escalating tensions between Iran and Israel have driven up the demand for the safe-haven asset.

Gold futures, maturing on June 5, 2024, stood at Rs 72,813 per 10 grams on the MCX, up Rs 536 or 0.74 per cent from the previous day’s close of Rs 72,277.

In the international market, gold prices were up 0.16 per cent at $2,386.8 an ounce in New York which was close to the lifetime high touched earlier.

Retail gold prices in India crossed the Rs 73,000 mark per 10 grams of 24-carat gold. The gold price in Delhi hovered around Rs 73,310 while in Mumbai it was around Rs 73,160 per 10 grams.

“Primarily, the price trend of the yellow metal breaching new highs, in the backdrop of the recent Iran-Israel conflict has led to investors withdrawing from riskier avenues and reinvesting in gold. Given the scenario of looming escalations between the countries in conflict and the response by G7,” said Colin Shah, MD, Kama Jewelry.

“On the trade front, jewellery exports from India will get further sluggish owing to higher crude prices and tension, leading to a poor sentiment in the end-user class in international markets,” he added.

Navneet Damani of Motilal Oswal Financial said, the gold and dollar index are now moving in tandem, highlighting that market focus currently is more on geopolitical tensions and less on interest rate changes.”

World

Iranian military says will “cut the foot of aggressor”

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Reacting to support by certain Western leaders to the Israeli regime, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said, “We remind the heads of state of the United States, Britain, France and Germany to stop supporting the moribund, evil, law-breaking, terrorist and child-killing regime of Israel.”

He added, “You know well that the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven that it is not warmongering and is not also seeking to spread the war.”

But, the senior military spokesman said, if any country, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany, and the “desperate and helpless” regime of Israel do a military adventure against Iran “we will cut its feet more powerfully” than the one Iran did against the “aggressor and evil regime of Israel” in response to its deadly air raid on the Iranian diplomatic premise in Syria on April 1.

“We advise you, instead of condemning the legitimate and legal act of the Islamic Republic of Iran, be wise and do not support the illegitimate, stupid and terrorist regime (of Israel) which has been caught in the quagmire and don’t put yourself in the burning oven,” Shekarchi asserted.

According to the United Nations Charter and the Vienna conventions attacks on diplomatic and consular premises are a violation of international law.

MNA/TT

Middle East

Zionist officials confused after Iran’s anti-Israel operation

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On April 1, the Israeli terrorist attack on Iran’s consulate building in Syria provoked a response from the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on April 13.

The IRGC fired dozens of missiles and drones on Israeli targets, which caused confusion among the Zionist authorities.

Dual and contradictory reaction of Zionists

The Zionists have experienced a clear contradiction in reaction to the legitimate response of the Islamic Republic of Iran. On the one hand, the Zionist authorities claimed that they intercepted all Iranian missiles and drones with no damage. On the other hand, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under intense pressure from cabinet members and some critics, causing him to hold frequent war cabinet meetings to consider how to respond to Iran’s anti-Israel operation.

Such contradictory statements are a significant indication of the heavy defeat of the Zionist regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the hard and irreparable blow that Tel Aviv has suffered from Tehran.

The Zionist newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, described the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus as a wrong act due to miscalculations by the Zionist regime’s cabinet and termed the night of Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel as a “strategic circus” for the regime.

US expert Scott Ritter said, “Iran attacked Nevatim Airbase with at least seven new hypersonic missiles. Nevatim is home to the F-35 jet fighters that attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Not a single Iranian missile was intercepted.”

In fact, considering the conflicting positions of the Zionists, who on the one hand claim that the Iranian attack was not successful and on the other hand they have attempted to restore the lost deterrence after the attack shows that, contrary to the media positions in Israel, Iran’s attack was calculated and successful and has been able to inflict a major blow on the Zionist regime.

Why was Iran’s response an irreparable blow?

Unlike the Zionist regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran did not take a surprise action against the Zionist regime and the response time of the Islamic Republic of Iran was clear, and the countries in the region knew about it.

On the other hand, although some Western countries supporting the Zionists made media hype and denounced the legitimate defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran did not target any residential settlement and diplomatic centers.

Iran targeted Israeli military bases with missiles and drones. However, the Zionists were confused and frightened a few days before Iran’s response, and this turmoil reached its highest level on the night of Iran’s response. Iran’s clever planning was one of the reasons for the Zionists’ failure and hard hit.

In addition, the Zionist regime is now in a military mess. On the one hand, it claims to have one of the world’s largest militaries; on the other hand, it does not have the power to decide how to respond to Iran’s actions.

The regime does not know whether to respond militarily to Iran’s action or to listen to the advice of its most important supporter, the United States, and not to move toward escalation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Zionists also faced a strong warning from the Islamic Republic of Iran that if it took military action against Iran, Tehran’s next response would be far more difficult and more severe.

Conclusion

The former Israeli prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, after years of declaring the fake regime following the victories in the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, said a very thoughtful sentence: “Israel can win 100 battles and still endure its problems, but losing a single war would mean its destruction.”

The Zionists are now trying not to express the realities, but they believe that they have ceded the battle to the Islamic Republic of Iran. They fear the death of the regime before reaching 80 years old.

AMK/6079319

Top News

Dhoni's Brilliant Gesture For Heartbroken Rohit After MI vs CSK Game

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As Matheesha Pathirana and an ageless MS Dhoni delivered decisive blows, the Chennai Super Kings outgunned Mumbai Indians by 20 runs, pouring cold water on Rohit Sharma’s century. The Mumbai Indians stalwart did his best, scoring an unbeaten knock of 105 runs but lacked support from the other end as MI floundered in the chase of 207 runs on Sunday. As Rohit returned empty-handed despite his ton, Dhoni did his best to lift his morale with a hug after the end of play.

After Dhoni hammered three consecutive sixes in the final over bowled by Hardik Pandya to race to 20 not out off just four balls to propel CSK to a huge 206 for four, Pathirana grabbed 4 for 28 to halt the chase of MI at 186 for six.

Rohit produced his only second IPL century and first since 2012, hitting 11 fours and five sixes during his 63-ball knock. But his magnificent effort did not get adequate support from the rest despite the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium remaining conducive for batting.

Defending champion CSK’s first away win this season also marked a fourth defeat for Mumbai Indians in six matches, keeping them at the eighth spot.

CSK, on the other hand, rose to the third with eight points in their kitty.

In a game wherein the loudest cheers were reserved for Dhoni, Mumbai skipper Pandya continued to get booed intermittently.

There were, though, a section of fans cheering him on at least once, like they did in the last game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Unlike CSK, who got their majority of runs in the last 10 overs (136), Mumbai Indians remained in the hunt of in the initial part through Rohit’s sustained acceleration and some handy contributions from others.

Once again, Rohit set the platform for Mumbai with a sturdy 70-run stand in seven overs with Ishan Kishan, who raced to 23 off 15 balls (3x4s, 1x6s).

With MI on charge, pacer Pathirana produced a two-wicket over after the powerplay accounting for Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav (0), getting him caught at third man with Mustafizur Rahman producing a juggling act at the ropes to complete the catch.

Tilak Varma aided Rohit with a 20-ball 31 laced with five fours, adding 60 off 38 balls for the third wicket, but Pathirana’s return broke their stand.

However, it was the Mumbai duo of Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande tilted the game in favour of CSK, producing two tight overs which broke the back of MI’s chase.

Pandya fell for just two but consumed six balls and Tim David hammered a couple of sixes but failed to capitalise. Amid all this, Rohit remained stuck at the other end watching the game slip away despite his best effort.

Earlier. Dhoni’s ballistic 20 garnished forceful fifties by Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad as Chennai Super Kings powered to a strong 206 for four.

Dube (66 not out, 10×4, 2×6) and Gaikwad (69), who milked 90 runs off a mere 45 balls for the third wicket, gave Chennai innings steam in the initial and middle passages of the play before Dhoni mesmerized a packed Wankhede with vintage shot-making.

The former CSK skipper hammered three consecutive sixes off MI skipper Pandya (2/43) to help his side collect 26 runs off the final over.

Dhoni’s stunning knock – which had the balls sailing over long-off, wide long-on and deep square leg – also pushed Chennai past the 200-run mark, which did appear tough until that final over.

Even though he could not push beyond 69, which came off 40 balls with five sixes and as many boundaries, Gaikwad appeared in prime form.

The CSK skipper hit through the line effortlessly to clear ropes and when the MI bowlers challenged him by angling their deliveries into his body, Gaikwad improvised to find his runs without taking any unwanted risks.

With PTI inputs

Topics mentioned in this article

World

No evidence Iran is building nuclear weapons: IAEA chief

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Rafael Grossi, who has traveled to New York, explained to reporters when asked about new developments in Iran’s nuclear program.

Despite some political claims about Iran for having high levels of enriched uranium reserves, it does not mean that the country has nuclear weapons, the IAEA chief clarified.

“As far as the Agency is concerned – of course, we must be careful when making public comments – we do not have any information or indications that Iran has a nuclear weapons program”, he further said.

Grossi also expressed his satisfaction about Iran’s cooperation with the nuclear watchdog.

Our inspectors in Iran were informed by the Iranian government that all the nuclear sites were closed for security reasons and were re-opened today to continue inspections, but I have decided that our inspectors will resume work from tomorrow, he explained, adding that the recent tensions have not affected the agency’s activities.

Grossi also expressed hope that he will go to Tehran within the next few weeks to meet with Iranian officials and discuss cooperation.

The IAEA has on numerous occasion said that cooperation between Iran and the agency is “sustained” and is based on principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and safeguards agreements.

Two years after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) inked in 2015 and the procrastination of the European parties in fulfilling their obligations under the agreement, Iran took steps based on the deal to reduce its obligations.

Iran scaled back its commitments under the JCPOA in several phases as enshrined in Articles 26 and 36 of the UN-endorsed accord. But the country has always emphasized that the measures taken are reversible and whenever the other parties to the deal fulfill their obligations.

AMK/IRN85445926

Middle East

Iran to not let Israel to disturb peace, stability of region

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In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman discussed the latest developments in the region, especially the current developments in Palestine.

Amir-Abdollahian explained Iran’s positions regarding the process of developments in the region, especially after the IRGC ( Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) operation against the aggressive military targets of the Zionist regime, as well as Iran’s measures in the political, legal, and international fields.

He emphasized that Iran considers the security and stability of neighboring and friendly countries in the region as its own stability and security, adding that  Iran will not allow the Zionist regime to disrupt the peace and stability in the region with its adventurism.

Sayyid Badr bin Busaidi, the foreign minister of Oman for his part condemned the Zionist regime’s aggression and crimes in the region, especially against the Palestinian people, emphasizing the need for close coordination and consultation between the countries of the region to overcome the current sensitive situation and ensure stability and security.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Oman also reviewed the latest humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need to continue and strengthen the efforts of the two countries along with other influential Islamic and Arab countries in the international fields to end the crimes of the Zionist regime, establish an immediate ceasefire and sending humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

SD/IRN85445889

Top News

Olympic Flame For Paris 2024 To Be Lit In Ancient Olympia

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Olympic Flame For Paris 2024 To Be Lit In Ancient Olympia

Greek actress Mary Mina lights the torch during the rehearsal of the flame lighting ceremony.

Olympia, Greece:

The sacred flame for the Paris 2024 Olympics is to be lit Tuesday in ancient Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Games, for an epic torch relay stretching from the Acropolis to the South Pacific.

Hundreds of dignitaries and spectators are expected to attend the ritual in the small Peloponnese town in southwestern Greece where the Olympics were born in 776 BCE, and where the ceremony is held every two years for the summer and winter Olympics.

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic imposed toned-down events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Games, spectators will be able to attend the torch relay events.

At a rehearsal Monday, Greek actress Mary Mina brought the Olympic flame into life with the help of a parabolic polished mirror before handing it to the first torch bearer, 2020 Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos.

It will be used as a backup in case overcast skies forecast for Tuesday prevent the mirror from producing flame.

The ceremony will be conducted at the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach heading the list of dignitaries.

French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will also be present.

“We hear nature, the rustling of the leaves, there is a sacred silence,” Artemis Ignatiou, the choreographer and artistic director of the Olympic flame ceremony, told state TV ERT about the ceremony’s dance performance.

“There are moments when we feel as if we are hovering above the ground. It’s like travelling back in time,” she said.

American mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato is to deliver the Olympic anthem.

The torch harks back to the ancient Olympics when a sacred flame burned throughout the Games. The tradition was revived in 1936 for the Berlin Games.

Retired French swimmer Laure Manaudou, who won a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics, is strongly tipped to be France’s first torchbearer in Olympia, according to sources in Greece.

During the 11-day relay on Greek soil, some 600 torchbearers will carry the flame over a distance of 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) through 41 municipalities.

Carried by ship

The Olympic flame will be handed over to Paris 2024 organisers in a ceremony at the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic Games of 1896, on April 26.

Nana Mouskouri, the 89-year-old Greek singer with a worldwide following, has been invited to perform at the ceremony.

On April 27, the flame will begin its journey to France on board the 19th-century three-masted barque Belem, which was launched just weeks after the Athens 1896 Games.

A French historical monument, the Belem carried out trade journeys to Brazil, Guyana and the Caribbean for nearly two decades.

France’s last surviving three-mast steel-hulled boat, it is expected to arrive in Marseille on May 8.

Ten thousand torchbearers will then carry the flame across 64 French territories.

It will travel through 400 towns and dozens of tourist attractions during its 12,000-kilometre (7,500-mile) journey through mainland France and overseas French territories in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific.

On July 26 it will form the centrepiece of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on the river Seine — the first time it has not been held in the Games’ main stadium.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

World

SCO chief condemns Israel’s terrorist attack on Iran’s Syria consulate

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Mourners attend a funeral procession for senior IRGC commander Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who was assassinated in an Israeli terrorist attack on Iran’s Syria consulate, in Isfahan on April 6, 2024. (Photo by Tasnim news agency)

The secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has condemned the Israeli regime’s recent terrorist attack against the Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria.

Zhang Ming made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday, a day after the Islamic Republic retaliated for Israel’s deadly strike on its consulate in Damascus.

He said all SCO members are concerned about the current situation in West Asia and want the restoration of security to the region.

The SCO chief also appreciated Iran’s efforts towards establishing regional peace and security, calling for the expansion of international cooperation aimed at ending the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, as well as normalizing the situation in Palestine and helping its people.

The top Iranian diplomat, for his part, hailed the successful holding of the 19th Meeting of the SCO Security Council Secretaries in Kazakhstan’s Astana early this month and the positive role played by the Eurasian bloc in critical issues, especially the fight against terrorism.

On April 1, Israeli warplanes bombed the consular annex of Iran’s embassy in Damascus.

The terrorist air raid killed 13 people, including seven members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) who were on an advisory mission to Syria.

Overnight on Saturday and early Sunday morning, Iran exercised its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and conducted a large-scale retaliatory operation.

The Iranian Armed Forces launched hundreds of missiles and drones at military sites in the occupied territories and warned of a much harsher response against any further act of aggression by the Tel Aviv regime.

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