Rubio’s remarks were tone deaf and will further inflame anti-US sentiment. He didn’t even express condolences for India’s loss of life! Some “friend” Trump’s America is to India. hindustantimes.com/india-new…

🧵 Here is the TRUTH: Dangerous gain-of-function research was funded by the U.S. government around the world, directed and approved by people like Dr Fauci. @DNIGabbard exposed that yesterday. Using U.S. government data, put together and uncovered by career subject matter experts in the Intelligence Community and other government agencies, yesterday’s release highlighted one example of the many overseas biolabs funded by the U.S., the research conducted there, and the significant risks they pose to the world, especially when located in a country at war.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 🔗 dni.gov/files/BIOLAB_Slides.…

“it ( the ship attacked by the US Navy)!had no business being there.” Where else would tankers involved in oil transport from the Gulf would be? Not in this area? If for genuine commercial reasons these tankers should not be in or near the Strait of Hormuz, what business has the US Navy to be there? The victim is guilty? Is it the argument that the killing of Indian seafarers by the US was justified under the circumstances? They invited their own death by being where they should not have been? If the US blockade is illegal then how can an attempt to bypass it be illegal?

Did the Iranian army/navy knowingly kill Indians? Did the Russian army kill Indians, or were they killed fighting Ukranian army in war? US navy knew there were Indians on board when it fired the missile Marco Rubio expressed no regret over killing of our sailors

A very harsh response from Rubio. Implicitly justifying the killing of Indian mariners. The US is not upholding peace and security in the Strait. Iran may not be innocent but It is the US that is the cause of disturbing peace and security there by its initial attacks on Iran. India has to tolerate the killing of its mariners because the US will not tolerate the violation of its unilateral blockade. Not even a pro forma regret at the killing of civilian unarmed nationals of a friendly country. Rubio has raised the ante. He has snubbed us.

This is literally what US deputy secretary of state said at this year's Raisina Dialogue. Not sure where the optimism in certain quarters for a "US-India trusted corridor" is coming from. Why should the Americans give us preferential treatment? And why should we expect to get it?

Despite criticism of the UN’s ineffectiveness, an excellent tribute by @vsm6705 reminds us of the sacrifices made by peacekeepers to reduce bloodshed and prevent the occurrence and recurrence of conflict. open.spotify.com/album/2i03g… @max_amb @Lacroix_UN @ICWA_NewDelhi @UNPeacekeeping

This was needed. Adequately phrased.

Surprised at the mala fide comparison made by Salvatore Babones between India’s attack on Pakistan after the Pahalgam massacre to US attack on commercial vessels in international waters. He questioned the legality of India’s attack on terrorist hubs in Pakistan without UN approval to refute my argument that the US attack on commercial vessels in international waters that has resulted in the killing of three Indian nationals was against international law and that there no UN approval for enforcing the US blockade. Our action was directly in response to a heinous terrorist attack at Pahalgam sponsored by Pakistan as has done several times before by Pakistan: attack on our parliament, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pathankot, Pulwama etc. India’s action was in self- defence in accordance with the UN Charter. India did not decapitate the Pakistani political and military leadership, bombed its nuclear facilities, schools, civilian and energy infrastructure, blockaded an international water way or attacked commercial vessels headed towards or out of Pakistan in international waters killing three US nationals. As a responsible country after it had delivered a strong anti-terrorism message in self- defence India also agreed to a ceasefire within four days to contain escalation.

This ill-informed tweet by Vishnu Som (I am blocked by him) offers weak excuses that downplay the killing of Indian seafarers while justifying U.S. escalation. As a Veteran Naval officer and serving Merchant Navy captain with considerable experience in International waters, here is my Point-by-point response to his tweet: - “Active conflict zone” The Strait of Hormuz is international waters under UNCLOS (Articles 87 & 58). Freedom of navigation for neutral merchant vessels remains protected. “Conflict zone” does not authorise lethal strikes on civilians. - “Armed naval blockade” A lawful belligerent blockade under the San Remo Manual demands necessity and proportionality, effective notification, and minimal civilian harm. ‘Precision strikes’ killing Indian crew on neutral-flagged tankers exceed law enforcement and violate international humanitarian law. The Shipping Company claims no warning was given by the US Forces. This incident needs a neutral investigation to fix responsibility. -“Ships chose to evade the blockade” Merchant ships have every right to transit international waters. Blaming civilian crews (including Indians) for economic decisions ignores India’s duty to protect its nationals. This is victim-blaming, not analysis. -“Switched off AIS” Captains of ships may deactivate AIS for safety/security in high-threat areas (per IMO guidelines), with proper log entries. This does not justify immediate lethal force. Graduated responses like warnings and visit-and-search are the international standard for all Navies. -“Foreign-flagged vessels” The Flag state is irrelevant to India’s responsibility for its citizens. Three Indian sailors (cadet Aditya Sharma, fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, chief engineer Patnala Suresh) died on MT Settebello alone. We cannot abandon 100,000 Indian seafarers on global ships. Bottom Line is India is not a party to this U.S.-Iran conflict. Our priorities should be seafarer safety, energy security, and freedom of navigation; principles the U.S. champions elsewhere. The government and responsible Journalists must demand accountability, compensation, transparent Rules of Engagement, and stronger protection for Indian mariners.

Here is an apologia for the US responsibility for the killing of three Indian seamen. Our media should raise its voice against this tragedy and not treat is as a matter of secondary concern. And support the logic of US action instead. Our media should be a point pf pressure on the US and not defend its action at the cost of Indian lives. Whatever the sins of Iran, the US blockaded is illegal. Even if the transponders were shut off under whose legal authority the US has been mandated to militarily attack commercial shipping in international waters?

So glad you are sticking to this story @BDUTT

Managers of MT Settebello have issued a public statement holding the @USNavy responsible for the incident that led to the deaths of three crew-linked individuals

My point is that I understand when #India doesn't name the perpetrator when it condemns the Israeli bombing of Qatar. I understand when India doesn't name when it condemns the Russian attacks in Ukraine. I also understand if India doesn't want to name when it condemns the Iranian attack on Persian Gulf monarchies. That's strategic balancing. But I don't understand why India doesn't name the country that fired missiles at vessels carrying Indian nationals, and killed three of them, in India's neighbourhood waters!

Why are we indirectly justifying the US action by referring to OFAC and using terms like non- compliance? These are illegal actions even if the ships are not Indian- flagged. Our concern is that Indian seamen have been killed and no regret has been expressed by CENTCOM. If India and the US cooperate on maritime security in the Indian Ocean, hold elaborate naval exercises, subscribe to the concept of the Indo- Pacific, the US can’t be indifferent to killing Indian seamen in the Indian Ocean whatever the circumstances.

The war Israel and the US launched in India's neighbourhood poses the single largest threat to India's continued rise as a major economic power. The war has posed new threats to India's energy security and complicated its choices in West Asia, particularly in the Persian Gulf, a region critical for India's growth in more than one way. You and I ate already hit by high energy prices, and it will go up further. The war poses direct threats to the safety and well-being of the Indians living in the region, and the economic impact of the war on the Gulf will have a direct bearing on millions of Indian households. The US torpedoed an Iranian vessel, which was in the region to participate in drills in India, in the Indian Ocean, bringing the war closer to India's shores. Now the US has bombed a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, carrying 24 Indians, in which three Indian lives were lost. --Have said this earlier. India MUST articulate a stronger position defending its critical interests, and against the perpetrators of this war which is endangering India's rise. We are not a passive fence-sitter here. We are getting hit, in one way or the other, every day.

You build up international influence in years, but you can lose it in one election day. The failed German candidacy for the UN Security Council shows why the Netherlands cannot afford further erosion of its diplomatic service. The surprising failure of Germany's candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028 immediately led to analyses of Chancellor Merz and the state of German politics. Also in the Volkskrant of Friday 5 June, the emphasis was understandably mainly on Berlin. But it is easy to overlook the fact that elections within the United Nations have their own laws. Full reaction below.

🚨Extremely serious: Technical reports reveal the presence of Israeli spyware that cannot be removed from Samsung devices, and Samsung has not provided any explanation to its users. Details of the investigation reveal that the app is embedded in the operating system, preventing its complete removal. Even when disabled, “AppCloud” remains on the device, reappears after updates, and can secretly install additional software. This is not a warning from a hostile party, but a technological scandal. What is happening is an extension of a comprehensive Israeli approach: spying on allies and friends. Yesterday, Pentagon reports classified Israel as a “major” espionage threat after it eavesdropped on American negotiators. And today, its software is hidden in phones around the world. Whoever integrates with this system also integrates with those who spy on them!!!

The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place with remarkable speed. They carried out a 'false-flag' operation by deploying a copied 'Lucas' drone to strike Kuwait Airport — manufacturing the perfect pretext to market their 'Powerus'-developed anti-drone air defense systems under the guise of protecting against Iranian attacks. Profitable indeed!

Lt Gen “Tindi” Sharma and Brig Mark Pillai – reunion of two Bombay Sapper family’s In 1942, then Lt MM Pillai was awarded a Military Cross for his daring escape from a POW camp in Singapore and his 5000 km journey home to India across Japanese occupied Malaya, Thailand and Burma. Later he was tasked with training Sappers, and his adjutant was the young “Tindi” Sharma who later retired as Engineer-in-Chief Indian Army, Lt Gen SN Sharma. A few days ago in Delhi, it was my privilege to reunite the 2 families – in this picture, we stand before a portrait of Lt Gen Sharma’s elder brother Major Somnath Sharma, the first winner of the Param Vir Chakra. From left to right are Col Ravi Pillai 63 Cavalry (Brig Pillai’s 3rd son), Gen Sharma and me. Lt Mark Pillai’s escape features in my book The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II that can be found here linktr.ee/gautamhazarikasing… @PenguinIndia @penswordbooks @sampathpillai @tebaccofficial @RE_Hist_Society