MEA Summons US Diplomat Again, Protests Against Continued Strikes on Ships with Indian Crew The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi has summoned the United States’ Chargé d’Affaires, Jason Meeks, for the second consecutive day to register its protest against the US military’s continued strikes on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members in the waters of West Asia. The MEA described the actions as “unacceptable” and warned that they undermine the safety and stability of international maritime commerce, particularly in a region already facing heightened tensions. The protests follow a series of incidents in which US naval forces targeted foreign-flagged tankers suspected of violating sanctions against Iran. On Thursday, the MEA informed Meeks of its “deepest concerns” over the ongoing attacks, emphasizing that the strikes had resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman. Twenty-one crew members were rescued from the vessel after the strike, which the US Central Command acknowledged as part of its efforts to enforce a blockade against maritime traffic linked to Iran. The MEA reiterated its demand that the US military take “all necessary measures to prevent the loss of civilian life” and ensure the safety of maritime operations. Meeks had been summoned on Thursday to address the incident involving the Settebello, and the MEA reiterated its concerns during the second consecutive day of the summons. The ministry also highlighted that the US military had struck another tanker, the Marivex, on Monday, which was carrying 24 Indian seafarers. All crew members were rescued from the vessel, which was allegedly attempting to transport oil from Iran.#us_central_command #ministry_of_externa_affairs #jason_meeks #settebello #marivex
India's 10 Killed in Russia-Ukraine War; Central Government Submits Details to Supreme Court New Delhi: The Indian government has disclosed that 10 citizens, who were part of a group of 26 Indians allegedly involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have died in the war. This information was provided to the Supreme Court during a hearing on a petition filed by the families of the affected individuals. The petition, submitted by relatives from Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, seeks the rescue of their loved ones who were reportedly forced into combat. The petition alleges that the 26 Indians, who had legally entered Russia for reasons such as tourism and education, were illegally detained and later conscripted into the war. The families claim that agents misled them into joining the conflict, with passports confiscated upon arrival and mandatory participation in combat. The legal team representing the petitioners stated that the Ministry of External Affairs has not responded to their pleas and that no efforts have been made to locate or rescue the individuals. In response, the government informed the court that 10 of the 26 individuals had died in the conflict. According to officials, most of the deceased were recruited voluntarily with private contracts with Russian entities, while others were reportedly coerced by agents. One individual remains in custody on charges of war crimes, and another is still engaged in combat. The government emphasized that the deaths were the result of the conflict's circumstances.#india #supreme_court #russia_ukraine_war #ministry_of_externa_affairs #chief_justice_suryakant
