Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Russian President Vladimir Putin, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underlined their “special”, “privileged” and “strategic” partnership with New Delhi as they wished India on its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday. In a message of greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Independence Day, President Putin said he is confident that the two nations will continue to boost fruitful bilateral cooperation in all areas through joint efforts, as well as constructive partnership in resolving pressing issues on the regional…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: On the 77th Independence Day, the Indian Army on Tuesday dedicated a bridge to locals of Danna, the last village on the Line of Control in Machhal Sector across Machhal Nala in Jammu and Kashmir, informed the Public Relations Officer, Defence, Srinagar. The 115feet long bridge has been named Bhagat Bridge in memory of the Late Major Bhagat Singh, Veer Chakra, who laid down his life defending this sector in the 1965 war. Danna Village is also known as Bhagat Village in memory of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The event was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and UAE’s Prime Minister, tweeted in Hindi to congratulate the people of the country. “As India celebrates its 77th Independence Day, I extend my congratulations to the leadership and the people of this great nation. On this joyous occasion, the UAE reaffirms its commitment to building a future of shared prosperity and growth, elevating our partnership to new heights, and exploring new horizons of political, economic, and cultural relations. Happy Independence Day, Swatantrata Diwas! Sheikh Mohammed posted on the social media platform…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Two people lost their lives and 85 others were injured in aerial firing in Karachi on the eve of Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day, reported Dawn citing officials. Jamshed Quarters Station House Officer (SHO) Gul Baig said that a 25-year-old woman was travelling with her family on a motorbike and was hit by a bullet fired from an unknown direction when she was passing through the People’s Chowrangi, Karachi. Following the incident, she was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where doctors declared her dead, according to surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed. In another incident, Baghdadi Station House Officer…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The first community service centre by the Bhutan district administration was inaugurated by the Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck at Damphu in Bhutan’s Tsirang, The Bhutan Live reported on Sunday. The RENEW’s (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women) Community Service Centre will enhance access to sexual and gender-based violence services in the community. The Bhutan Live reported that UNICEF’s country representative Andrea James accompanied the Queen Mother. The centre is set to become a hub for supporting individuals affected by various challenges including gender-based violence. The centre has been actively engaged in delivering comprehensive sexuality education, elimination of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Addressing the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that inflation at global level remains to be a cause of worry but the Indian Government has succeeded in protecting its people from high inflation and the world looks up to India for global economic growth. “Inflation at the global level remains a cause for worry. But in India, the Government and the Reserve Bank have managed to contain it. The Government has succeeded in protecting the common people from high inflation while also providing a more extensive security cover to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: At a time when tourism activities in Kashmir are in limelight, the Union Territory administration has also shifted its focus to promote centuries old rich literature, art, culture, heritage and traditions of the Valley. Kashmir’s geographical location partly explains its cultural history and it may be that its natural beauty and temperate climate are the reasons that Kashmiris have a strong tradition in the arts, literature, painting, drama and dance. Last week, as part of J&K administration’s efforts to take literary activities from cities and towns to the hinterland, a maiden two-day “Veshow Literary festival” was organized in…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party President and Former Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was rearrested in an asset reference case after he was released from Adiala Jail, Samaa News reported on Monday. The National Accountability Beauru (NAB) received one-day transit remand of the PTI Leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in an asset reference case, Samaa News said in a report. Samaa News reported that the leader was released after his initial period of detention has expired and was rearrested by NAB Lahore in connection with assets beyond known sources of income case. PTI leader was produced in District and…

INTERNATIONAL DESK:  Jubilant Kashmiris holding the National Flag and the tricolour flying high at the iconic Ghanta Ghar in the heart of Srinagar’s Lal Chowk today have disproved the statement made in 2019 by Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, that if article 370 is tinkered with, there would be no one left in Kashmir to hold the tricolour in their hands. Upbeat Kashmiris have now decided to carry forward the vision of Prime Minister Modi to make India a developed Nation by 2047. Four years after 2019, Jammu and Kashmir is decked…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As India prepares to celebrate its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday, the spirit of patriotism is in full swing particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. In Doda, the Ganpat Bridge was illuminated in the colours of the Tricolour on Sunday evening, and a Tiranga rally was organized to mark the occasion. A video shared by the Doda District Administration shows scores of people carrying a long Indian flag above their heads while chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” Earlier on Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the ‘Tiranga Rally’ from Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The navies of India and the United Arab Emirates carried out a military exercise as part of efforts to boost maritime security cooperation. Indian naval ships INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand were part of the exercise. The ships arrived at Port Rashid in Dubai on August 8. After two days of detailed planning, the two navies conducted the bilateral maritime partnership exercise today, aimed to enhance the interoperability and synergy between the two navies by cross training on tactics, techniques and procedures,” the Indian Navy said. It said INS Visakhapatnam, commanded by Captain Ashok Rao, is one of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that China will resume outbound group tours for Chinese citizens to around 80 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mexico, etc. It is the third batch of destinations in China’s pilot program for outbound group tours. The move to expand the number of destinations comes as China’s overseas tourism industry has been on a firm trajectory of quick recovery during the past month, China Economic Net (CEN) reported. The return of more Chinese travelers is also expected to provide a much-needed boost to the global tourism industry and channel optimism into the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The University of Chakwal, located in the Punjab province of Pakistan has suspended the head of its law department over allegations of involvement in supplying drugs to the students, reported The Express Tribune. The University has further constituted a committee to investigate the issue. Vice Chancellor Muhammad Bilal Khan ordered the suspension of the alleged Ghufran Ahmed. As per the University’s website, Ahmed is an assistant professor as well as the head of the law department and has done his PhD in law from the International Islamic University Islamabad, The Express Tribune reported. According to the sources, he…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The government has deployed three public sector hydro power companies to fast-track 12 languishing hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh, including the 2,000MW Upper Subansiri project, as a strategic response to China’s dam-building spree near the northeast border. Three public sector hydel companies – NHPC, SJVN and NEEPCO, a subsidiary of thermal power giant NTPC – signed MoUs with the Arunachal government in Itanagar for taking over the projects with aggregate capacity of 11,517MW. The government has approved the country’s largest ever hydropower project in the region bordering China as it seeks to build renewable generation to meet rising…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Reacting to the appointment of Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar as Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson expressed hope that that caretaker PM-designate Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar will ensure free, fair and transparent election within the constitution limit of three months in the country, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. PTI spokesperson’s remarks come after Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi approved the appointment of Anwarul Haque Kakar as Caretaker Prime Minister for the country. Taking to Twitter, the President’s Office said that under Article 224 A of Pakistan’s constitution, Alvi appointed Anwarul Haque Kakar as caretaker PM. “President Dr Arif Alvi…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz has proposed a joint exercise with the Indian Air Force (IAF) – a move that is not surprising as Berlin is refocusing its future engagement in the Indo-Pacific and, like France, has put New Delhi at the centre of its maritme strategy. Concerned about China’s geostrategic striving for supremacy, which is challenging the other neighbouring countries, the navies of both countries are also scheduled to hold a joint exercise later this year during the Indo-Pacific deployment of German warships. As they step up bilateral defence ties and engage in more…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday flagged off a bike rally with digital vehicle services and launched a number of online service portals under the ‘Badalta Jammu Kashmir Program’ in Srinagar. The Lieutenant Governor flagged launched a variety of online service portals and flagged off a bike rally with digital vehicle services as part of the ‘Badalta Jammu Kashmir Program’ at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) today in Srinagar. While speaking on the occasion, LG Manoj Sinha said, “With the help of this digital service, people can make their Aadhaar Cards, Golden Cards, Domicile Certificates, Labour…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday stressed on faster extradition of fugitive economic offenders and recovery of their assets, besides achieving a “corruption-free world” during the crucial G20 anti-graft ministerial meeting in Kolkata. He said that a whopping USD 1.8 billion has been recovered and brought back to India from abroad in the past few years. Singh said that the “gender aspect of corruption” was also deliberated during the meeting and a headway has been made in this direction at the behest of India. On fugitive economic offenders, he said they pose a significant challenge to both national…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Political tension is rising in Bangladesh ahead of the country’s next round of national elections, due by January 2024. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is boycotting elections to extract concessions from the government on election management; rampant inflation is increasing citizens’ daily struggles; and both the BNP and ruling Awami League (AL) are holding large rallies across the country to mobilize their supporters. Yet in this tumultuous political scenario, there is little publicly available polling to understand the state of race. The International Republican Institute (IRI) recently released a national survey and focus group discussion (FGD) study…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India will once again press for troop disengagement at the strategically located Depsang Plains as well as Demchok in eastern Ladakh during the next round of top-level military talks early next week. The 19th round of corps commander-level talks will be held on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on August 14, almost four months after the last round failed to break the deadlock, defence sources said on Friday. The Indian delegation will be led by 14 Corps commander Lt-General Rashim Bali and include officials from the ministry of external affairs and ITBP, while the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: An employee of a Chinese defence firm has been arrested, accused by supplying “core information” to the CIA, China’s anti-espionage agency said on Friday. The announcement by the Ministry of State Security – Beijing’s top intelligence and counter-intelligence agency – comes less than a month after CIA head William Burns said the US agency had “made progress” in rebuilding its spy networks in China. It also coincides with a ramping up of anti-espionage rhetoric from both Beijing and Washington. In a rare move, the ministry named the CIA and spelled out that the 52-year-old defence worker, surnamed Zeng,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: At least 29 people died and 16 others are missing after the floods hit China’s Hebei Province, causing heavy losses to the region, The Global Times reported. The natural disaster cost around 95.811 billion Yuan loss to the Hebei provincial authorities announced at a Friday press briefing. The province’s officials expressed their deep condolences to those who lost their lives in the line of duty and victims of flooding and their affected families. All personnel mourned for the victims at the press briefing on Friday. The flood situation in Hebei province has become worsened as the heavy rainstorms…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The United States has requested a public UN Security Council meeting on August 17 to review North Korea’s human rights record and how it relates to global peace and security, Voice of America (VOA) reported. North Korea launched numerous intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as a large number of ballistic missiles this year, according to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. North Korea frequently claims that the joint military drills between the United States and South Korea are to blame for the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula and claims that its missile programme is designed to intimidate and “strike fear”…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Sowing of kharif crops is over in almost 90 per cent of the normal area during the week ended August 11, with acreage of rice being higher by almost 4.92 per cent as compared to the same period last year. On the other hand, arhar and urad were down by 5.41 per cent and 13.49 per cent, respectively, as compared to the same period in 2022. Paddy sowing is down so far in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Odisha. Normal area is the average area covered under a particular crop in the previous five years. Usually, sowing of kharif…