Category: World

In a strongly worded statement, a former U.S. president has warned Iran of severe consequences if it fails to reach a diplomatic agreement, urging the country to reconsider its current path amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The statement, shared on social media, claimed that the United States had given Iran “chance after chance” to make a deal, but that negotiations had failed to yield results. The former leader emphasized that continued delays would lead to “much worse” outcomes, citing the advanced capabilities of the U.S. military and its close alliance with Israel. “I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told,” the statement read. “The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the world, BY FAR, and Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come — and they know how to use it.” The remarks further alleged that certain Iranian hardliners who previously issued defiant statements are now dead, though no official confirmation or independent verification of these claims has been made. “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter… come to an end,” the statement continued. “Iran must make a deal before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.” The message ended with a direct appeal to Iranian leadership to stop the violence and return to the negotiating table: “No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” The Iranian government has not issued an official response to the comments as of the time of this report. The international community, including observers from the United Nations and various diplomatic missions, continues to call for restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation in the region.

Ahmedabad, India – June 12, 2025 — A devastating air disaster struck India on Thursday as Air India Flight 171, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing an unknown number of passengers and crew. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people including two pilots and ten cabin crew members, reportedly issued a mayday call moments before going down. The crash site, located just outside the airport perimeter in a densely populated area of Ahmedabad, was engulfed in flames and thick black smoke, witnesses said. India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stating that all emergency services had been dispatched immediately. “Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are rushed to the site,” Naidu said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board.” Air India Chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, confirmed the tragic incident in a statement: “With profound sorrow, I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event.” An emergency centre has been activated by the airline to coordinate rescue efforts and offer assistance to families of passengers. A dedicated support team is also working to provide information and counseling. India has a painful history of aviation tragedies, including: Thursday’s crash is now one of the most serious aviation disasters in recent Indian history. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause, as rescue and recovery operations continue amid national mourning.

Kyiv demands full ceasefire, Moscow pushes “lasting peace” amid deep divides A second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, held in Istanbul, Turkey, has ended without a major breakthrough. The only agreement reached was on a limited exchange of prisoners of war, with both sides pledging to swap all sick and heavily wounded captives, as well as those under 25. Ukraine’s negotiating team, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, accused Russia of rejecting its key demand for an “unconditional ceasefire” across land, sea, and air for at least 30 days. Kyiv said it had submitted a ceasefire proposal days before the talks, but Russia only presented its plan during the session. Russia’s delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, offered a limited truce in unspecified areas of the front line for two to three days. Medinsky also confirmed that Russia would return the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv next week. No timeline was given for the agreed prisoner exchange. Deep Divisions Persist The talks, lasting just over an hour, highlighted the ongoing rift between both sides. Moscow insists on Ukraine’s withdrawal from its four partly occupied regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—as well as Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Russia also demands Kyiv’s demilitarisation, a ban on NATO membership, Russian as an official language, and an end to sanctions. Kyiv and its Western allies have firmly rejected these demands, calling them tantamount to Ukraine’s de facto surrender. Ukrainian officials also presented a list of hundreds of children allegedly deported to Russia, demanding their return. Next Steps Unclear Umerov said Ukraine expects Russia’s formal response to its ceasefire proposals by the end of June and called for a direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, no concrete plans have been made for such talks. In Vilnius, where he was attending a summit, Zelensky said, “While there are no meaningful signals from Russia to end the war, it is important to strengthen our defence.” He also urged for more sanctions pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has continued to advocate for a quick settlement but has delayed imposing tougher sanctions on Moscow. Trump, who previously called Putin “absolutely crazy” after a wave of Russian drone and missile attacks, has been criticised for what some see as a soft stance on Russia. With no major progress from the peace talks, the war—now in its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022—grinds on, with Moscow still controlling around 20% of Ukrainian territory.