Iran parliament speaker warns US against ground invasion
Dubai (AP): Iranian forces “are waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” Iran parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Sunday.
“Our firing continues. Our missiles are in place. Our determination and faith have increased,” Qalibaf said.
He warned the US against a ground invasion, threatening severe retaliation against American troops and allies in the region if US forces alight on Iranian soil, according to Iran official media.
He described the US' 15-point plan which Pakistan passed to Iran last week as “their wishes” and said the Trump administration is attempting to gain through the plan what it has failed to achieve by force.
“As long as the Americans seek Iran's surrender, our response is clear: Far be it from us to accept humiliation,” he said.
Economic ramifications to be long-lived: Experts
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The US-Israel attacks on Iran have driven up prices, darkened the outlook for the world economy, sent global stock markets reeling and forced developing countries to ration fuel and subsidise energy costs to protect their poorest.
Ongoing strikes and counter-strikes on Persian Gulf refineries, pipelines, gas fields and tanker terminals threaten to the prolong the global economic pain for months, even years.
“A week ago or certainly two weeks ago, I would have said: If the war stopped that day, the long-term implications would be pretty small,'' said Christopher Knittel, an energy economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “But what we're seeing is infrastructure actually being destroyed, which means the ramifications of this war are going to be long-lived.''
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Prez Murmu to visit Siddaganga Math on April 1; Pontiff calls it ‘moment of pride’ for Tumakuru
Tumakuru (Karnataka) (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu will visit the renowned Siddaganga Math on April 1, in what is being described as "a moment of pride" for Tumakuru, its pontiff Siddalinga Swamiji said on Sunday.
Murmu will visit the math to take part in the 119th birth anniversary celebrations of Shivakumara Swamiji, who passed away at the age of 111 on January 21, 2019.
Addressing a press conference, the pontiff outlined the schedule and preparations for the visit, which will see the participation of several dignitaries, including Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and V Somanna, Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar and other senior leaders.
“The president’s visit on April 1 is a matter of pride for Tumakuru. It will be the first time a president is visiting the district and the second time a woman president is visiting the math,” Siddalinga Swamiji said.
He said Murmu would first visit the gadduge (memorial) at the math, where she would perform rituals before proceeding to the main stage for the formal programme.
"Upon arrival in Tumakuru, she will first visit the memorial, perform 'aarti' and 'puja', and then proceed directly to the stage. No further events are planned after the stage programme," he further said.
The programme is expected to last about an hour to an hour-and-a-half between 11 am and noon, with arrangements being made in coordination with the district administration.
Cultural events, including a veena recital and vachana (devotional poetry) singing by 119 women, will follow the main function, while dasoha (free community meal) will continue as in previous years, he said.
Swamiji also urged the media not to raise the issue of conferring the Bharat Ratna on Shivakumara Swamiji during the visit.
“Please do not bring it up. We should not seek such honours… This matter should not come to the notice of the president in any way,” he said.
He added that security protocols would be strictly enforced, with restrictions on carrying items such as umbrellas and water bottles into the venue, and appealed to the public to arrive early and cooperate for the smooth conduct of the event.
