NATIONAL NEWS
Jaish militant killed in an ecounter
Saturday morning brought the news of two militants killed in an encounter in the upper reaches of a forest range connecting Srinagar and Anantnag districts, with the J&K Police tweeting the news that one of the two killed was a wanted Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant from Pakistan who belonged to the family of the outfit’s chief Azhar Masood. The encounter broke out early in the morning during a search operation in a forest range falling between Nagberan and Marsar zones, closer to the Dachigam forest range of Srinagar. In the past, the upper range of Dachigam has been a relatively quiet place. 15 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. D.P. Pandey (centre), Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar (left) and General Commanding Officer Rashim Bali address a press conference at the Army headquraters in Srinagar on July 31, 2021. The reports of two militants killed come in the wake of a new challenge that security forces in Kashmir face now. As reported earlier in this newspaper, the presence of hybrid militants not listed as such but radicalised enough to carry out terror strikes has become a nightmare for the security forces as they are difficult to track down let alone identify them as such. It could be your neighbour. Elaborating on the attack, the IG said Lamboo, who had infiltrated into India in the second half of 2018, had even stayed with Adil Dar, who rammed an explosive laden vehicle into a convoy in Pulwama that left 40 CRPF jawans dead in 2019, till the day of ‘fidayeen’ attack. He is believed to be the person who had fabricated the IED used in the attack. The viral video of Dar had his voice in it, he added. Around 85 militants have been killed in the Valley following some aggressive operations mounted in Kashmir. The identity of the second militant killed in Saturday operations is yet to be ascertained.
India and China talks continue
India and China will be looking towards concluding an agreement for disengagement at Gogra and Hot Springs as part of the overall disengagement and de-escalation in Eastern Ladakh to end the standoff which began last year as the 12th round of Corps Commander talks between the two sparring countries got under way in Moldo on the Chinese side around 10. 30 a.m. on Saturday. While China had indicated that the meeting should be held on July 26 the Indian side had conveyed that the day being Kargil Vijay Diwas it would not be convenient. While disengagement has been completed on both banks of Pangong Tso in February, other friction points that remain to be resolved are Gogra and Hot Springs, Demchok and Depsang. Buffer zones were established in some places as part of earlier talks which remain in place and the situation on the ground remains stable, one official said. Another round of Major General level talks is also scheduled to be held very soon. In Eastern Ladakh, India and China have two mutually agreed disputed areas, Trig Heights and Demchok, and 10 areas of differing perception. The coming days will see the two countries make an attempt at ironing out their differences.
Babul Supriyo exits politics.
One-time professional singer and full-time politician, BJP MP, Babul Supriyo quit his Lok Sabha seat bringing his disappointing about not being given a cabinet berth out in the open. Supriyo, who had held several portfolios as MoS in the Narendra Modi government since 2014, was removed earlier this month during a major cabinet reshuffle. Supriyo’s disappointment found an outlet on Facebook with the following post by the former MP. If someone were ask whether leaving the politics is somehow connected to losing ministry. Yes then it is true to some extent…. Also had differences with the state leadership since the assembly poll campaign, he wrote. I have stayed for too long. I have helped somebody, have disappointed somebody, It is for the people to decide. To be involved in social work, you can do that without being involved in any politics, his post read. Leaving, Alvida. Spoke to my parents, wife, friends, and after listening to the advice I am saying that I am leaving. Am not going to any other party – TMC, Congress, CPIM, nowhere. I am confirming that nobody has called me. I am going nowhere. I am a one-team player! Have always supported one team #MohunBagan – Have been with only one party – BJP West Bengal. That’s it!! Leaving, Supriyo said in a Facebook post. The two-time MP from Asansol was among the several ministers dropped in the major cabinet reshuffle on July 7.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Indian-American picked for key position in U.S.
U.S. President Joe Biden has nominated Indian-American attorney Rashad Hussain as the Ambassador-at Large for International Religious Freedom, the first Muslim to be nominated to the key position, according to the White House Mr. Hussain, 41, is currently Director for Partnerships and Global Engagement at the National Security Council. Today’s announcement underscores the President’s commitment to build an Administration that looks like America and reflects people of all faiths. Hussain is the first Muslim to be nominated to serve as the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, the White House said in a statement on Friday. He previously served as Senior Counsel at the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. During the Obama administration, he served as U.S. Special Envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), U.S. Special Envoy for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications and Deputy Associate White House Counsel. In his roles as envoy, Mr. Hussain worked with multilateral organisations such as the OIC and the UN, to expand partnerships in education, entrepreneurship, health, international security, science and technology and other areas.
UN warns hunger is expected to rise in 23 global hotspots. Hunger is expected to rise in 23 global hotspots in the next three months with the highest alerts for catastrophic situations in Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region, Madagascar, Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria, two U.N. agencies warned on Friday. The Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program said in anew report on Hunger Hotspots between August and November that acute food insecurity is likely to further deteriorate. They put Ethiopia at the top of the list, saying the number of people facing starvation and death is expected to rise to 4,01,000 the highest number since the 2011 famine in Somalia if humanitarian aid isn’t provided quickly. In southern Madagascar, which has been hit by the worst drought in thepast40 years, pests affecting staple crops, and rising food prices – 14,000 people are expected to be pushed into catastrophic acute food insecurity marked by starvation and death by September. And that number is expected to double by the end of the year with 28,000 people needing urgent help, the two agencies said. Acute hunger is increasing not only in scale but also severity, FAO and WFP said in Friday’s report. Overall, over 41 million people worldwide are now at risk of falling into famine or famine-like conditions, unless they receive immediate life and livelihood-saving assistance. The two Rome-based agencies called for urgent humanitarian action to save lives in the 23 hotspots, saying help is especially critical in the five highest alert places to prevent famine and death.
SPORTS NEWS
India’s hopes for a gold dashed.
India’s hopes of a possible gold or silver medal were dashed today as the country’s favourite and the reigning world champion P V Sindhu lost to Tai Tzu-Ying of Chinese Taipei in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was defeated 21-18, 21-12 out maneuvered by Tai Tzu who has defeated Sindhu in their last three face-offs. P.V. Sindhu plays against Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-Ying during their women’s singles badminton semifinal match at the Olympics in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. Sindhu lost the match 18-21, 12-21. Sindhu will now take on China’s He Bing Jiao for the bronze medal. The 26 year old who won the silver in the Rio Olympics will be fighting for a medal in the Olympics. The news of Sindhu’s loss comes on a day when another medal hopeful, boxer Pooja Rani, exited out of the Olympics in the quarter final stage and the Women’s Hockey team entered the quarter finals as the women in blue shorts beat South Africa. India’s hope for a gold continues.
