Hamas blames Israel for ‘assassinating’ its top leader Ismail Haniyeh
Beirut: Hours after the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital Tehran on Wednesday, the Palestinian Hamas group has accused Israel of being behind the attack, terming it a “grave escalation”. Hamas described Haniyeh as their “brother and leader” and alleged that he was killed in a “treacherous Zionist raid” in his residence, after attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president.
Israel has not responded to the incident yet, according to Reuters. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri mentioned that this assassination by the Israeli occupation of Haniyeh is a severe escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas. He also said that Hamas is a “concept and an institution and not persons,” adding that they are confident of victory.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the assassination, calling it a “cowardly act and dangerous development,” in a statement from the official Wafa news agency. He urged Palestinians to remain united, patient, and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, defend the action, asserting that it is part of a necessary effort to “clean the world from filth” and make the world a better place. “The iron hand that will strike them is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace,” he stated.
This incident follows Israel’s claim of killing top Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for a recent deadly attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle
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New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.
"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.
The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.
The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.
Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.
Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.
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