NATIONAL NEWS
13 Nagaland civilians among 14 killed in alleged armed forces ‘ambush’
Thirteen civilians were among 14 people killed in an armed forces’ operation against extremists gone wrong in Nagaland’s Mon district on Saturday evening. The Army’s 3 Corps headquartered on the outskirts of the State’s Dimapur town issued a statement on Sunday, owning responsibility for the killing of the civilians and assuring appropriate action. The Nagaland Government has ordered a high-level probe into the incident by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents, a specific operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon district, Nagaland. The incident and its aftermath are deeply regretted, the statement said. The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law, it said, adding that a few soldiers were severely injured and one soldier succumbed to his injuries. According to members of the Konyak Union, representing the dominant Konyak community in the district, some labourers were returning home to Oting village in a pick-up van from a coal mine in Tiru area 15 km away. The armed forces ambushed their vehicle and killed six on the spot. Seven locals died later. At least 11 others are battling injuries while two are missing, a union member said. Reacting to the incident, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) announced the withdrawal of six tribes it represents from the annual Hornbill Festival ongoing at Kisama near State capital Kohima.
Seven, including 3 who came from Nigeria, test positive for Omicron in Pune
Seven persons from Pune district have tested positive for Omicron variant of coronavirus, a health official said on Sunday. They include a woman who came from Nigeria along with her two daughters to meet her brother in adjoining Pimpri Chinchwad area, the official said. Her brother and his two daughters have also tested positive for the variant, he added. Another case is of a man from Pune who returned from Finland in the last week of last month, the official said. The total number of confirmed Omicron cases in Maharashtra has gone up to eight, he said. A 33-year-old man from Maharashtra’s Thane district had tested positive for the Omicron variant of coronavirus. The man, a marine engineer, is currently undergoing treatment at a COVID-19 care centre in Kalyan town, located about 50 km from the State capital Mumbai. The resident of Dombivli town had arrived in Delhi from South Africa on November 23 and had then taken a flight to Mumbai. Earlier in the day, Delhi reported its first Omicron case. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said a patient admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, who had returned from Tanzania, had tested positive for the new variant.
No Opposition alliance sans Congress possible at national level, says Bhupesh Baghel
Days after Mamata Banerjee’s no UPA jibe, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday attacked the TMC chief, saying she must clarify whether she wants to make TMC the main Opposition party by fighting those in power or by taking on fellow Opposition parties. He also said no Opposition alliance is possible at the national level without the Congress, which has to be the main pillar of the bloc taking on the BJP. In an interview with PTI, Baghel said a decision on who would be the face of the Opposition that would take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 general election would be taken collectively by the constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) that is headed by Sonia Gandhi. His remarks come days after West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee took swipes at the Congress leadership and said there is no UPA, after meeting NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Mumbai. The TMC and the Congress have been growing distant of late, with the Mamata Banerjee-led party poaching the latter’s leaders in several states in the recent past. The two parties have further distanced themselves, with the TMC not attending the opposition meetings convened by the Congress over opposition unity in Parliament. Baghel, who is the Congress’ senior observer for Uttar Pradesh polls, also said UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is on his way out as everyone is angry with him and he has no achievements.
Sindhu wins silver in BWF World Tour Finals
Indian badminton ace P V Sindhu settled for a silver medal at the BWF World Tour Finals after going down meekly against Korean teen sensation An Seyoung in the summit clash in Bali on Sunday. First place winner An Seyoung of South Korea and second place Pusarla V. Sindhu of India celebrate with their trophies during the victory ceremony after their women’s singles badminton final match at the BWF World Tour Finals in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia on December 5, 2021. Sindhu, the reigning world champion and two-time Olympic medallist, could neither match the pace nor breach the defence of the world number six Korean, losing 16-21 12-21 in the 40-minute lop-sided clash. It was Sindhu’s third successive loss, all in straight games, to the Korean in as many meetings. With this victory, An Seyoung became the first ever South Korean woman to win the season-ending title. It was also her third straight title in Bali, following wins at the Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open in the last two weeks. Making her third final appearance in the year-end tournament, world number seven Sindhu looked a pale shadow of the player who had claimed the title in 2018 to become the only Indian to achieve the feat. Up against the 19-year-old Korean, Sindhu once again looked short of ideas. She couldn’t mount her attacking game or make use of the full court. An Seyoung looked more polished at the nets and rode on the quality of strokes. She produced some sensational full stretch diving saves with her swift movement to blunt Sindhu’s game plan. Sindhu will next look to defend her title at the World Championships in Huelva, Spain starting December 12.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive in India today
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India on December 6, 2021 to participate in the 21st India – Russia Annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Putin was accompanied by a high-level delegation. He held warm and friendly bilateral talks with PM Modi on the sidelines of the summit. During their talks, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the sustained progress in the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between both countries despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic. The two leaders further welcomed holding of the first 2+2 dialogue between foreign and defence ministers of India and Russia in New Delhi and the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military-Technical Cooperation in New Delhi on 6 December 2021. The Russian President said during his meeting with PM Modi, “We perceive India as a great power, a friendly nation, and a time-tested friend. The relations between our nations are growing and I am looking into the future.” PM Modi also affirmed, “In the last few decades, the world witnessed many fundamental changes and different kinds of geopolitical equations emerged but the friendship of India and Russia remained constant
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi jailed for four years
Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to jail for four years by the country’s military junta. She has been sentenced for incitement against the military and for breaching the COVID-19 rules. Myanmar went into political turmoil since the military took control of a democratically elected government in the country on February 1, 2021.
Winner of FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2021
In the final of FIH Men’s junior hockey world cup 2021, Argentina defeated six-time winners Germany 4-2 at the Kalinga Stadium in Odisha. This is Argentina’s second Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup title. It has become the only third team after Germany (six wins) and India (2001, 2016) to win multiple Junior Hockey WC titles.
New Exoplanet detected
One of the smallest planets has been detected by Astronomers. It is outside our solar system and a year there is just 8 hours long. The newly discovered exoplanet is reportedly smaller and denser than Earth. As per the researchers, its surface temperature may reach 1,500 degrees Centigrade– hot enough to melt rock and metal.
India-Russia sign defence deal
A procurement deal of over 6 lakh AK-203 rifles has been signed between India and Russia. The deal between both the countries was signed following the bilateral meeting between the Defence Ministers of both nations. The meeting between the defence ministers took place ahead of the summit between Russian President and PM Modi.
