Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a significant stride towards enhancing its energy landscape, Punjab has sealed a pivotal deal with Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) that promises economical solar power for its residents within the span of 18 months. Addressing the gathered media, Chief Minister Mann highlighted the magnitude of the occasion, emphasizing that this was the largest memorandum of understanding (MoU) ever inked between Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) and SJVN, a distinguished player in the realm of renewable energy and a subsidiary of the Bhakra Beas Management Board. This groundbreaking agreement pertains to a substantial 1,200 MW solar power…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Imran Khan’s life is still in danger and he can be poisoned in Attock jail, his wife Bushra Bibi has said as she demanded better prison facilities for the incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister. In her letter to the Punjab home secretary on Saturday, the 49-year-old wife of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman wrote that the court had directed the authorities concerned to shift her husband from Attock jail in Punjab to Adiala prison in Rawalpindi. “My husband has been imprisoned in Attock jail without any justification. According to the law, my husband should be transferred to Adiala…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a major development ahead of a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Africa, armies of India and China are holding Major General-level talks at two locations including Daulat Beg Oldie and Chushul to resolve the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit South Africa’s Johannesburg from August 22-24 to attend the 15th BRICS Summit at the invitation of South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. Defence sources told ANI that the Indian side was represented at the talks at two locations by Trishul Division Commander Major…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Elon Musk on Thursday praised Indian-American lawmaker Vivek Ramaswamy – who is set to contest against Donald Trump in Republican primaries for presidential polls – calling him a “very promising candidate”. “He is a very promising candidate,” Elon Musk said on X (formerly Twitter) while referring to Ramaswamy’s interview with popular journalist Tucker Carlson. Meanwhile, Ramswamy has been quite straightforward with his agenda for the poll campaign. He has called China the “biggest threat” that the US faces and said that he would go for “total de-coupling” with Beijing if he comes to power. The Republican leader has…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: US State Department on Thursday (local time) said that Washington is committed to confront terrorism across the world and continues to call for those involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to be brought to justice. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, however, said that the extradition process of Tahawwur Rana — an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attack — is a “pending matter”. “So this…as you so note, is a pending extradition matter. And so, given the fact that it is pending, I don’t have any specific comment to offer…I’m just not going to comment on a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Screening of Bollywood movies marked a return to strife-torn Manipur on Tuesday, around 23 years after militant organisations enforced a ban on them. It was on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day celebrations that the Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), a Kuki-Zo tribal students’ organisation, screened Bollywood film “Uri: The Surgical Strike” at Rengkai in the hill district of Churachandpur. A projector was set up to screen the film for a select audience from 7:30 pm. The screening witnessed an attendance of over 100 people, who turned up for the historic event. A film from the 1990s, “Kuch…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Chinese embassy lauded the Indian Coast Guard for successfully conducting the medical evacuation of a Chinese national from a Panama-flagged research vessel, MV Dong Fang Kan Tan No 2, around 200 Kms in the Arabian sea off Mumbai on the intervening night of August 16 and 17. The evacuation was carried out amidst challenging weather conditions and dark night. Our heartful appreciation to @IndiaCoastGuard for the timely and professional medical evacuation of a Chinese citizen in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai, tweeted the Chinese Embassy in India. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai on Wednesday received…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: An upgraded US-Vietnam partnership in response to repeated Chinese bullying at sea is a welcoming development, but as long as Beijing remains a powerful and united political entity — with a strong political will to exert its dominance over its periphery — concerns will be attached with the move, The Diplomat reported. US President Joe Biden has recently announced that he would be going to Vietnam shortly to upgrade bilateral relations with the country. Notably, this is a move that Washington had pushed for several times but has not eventuated due to Vietnam’s concern about China’s retaliation. Some…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflow in the manufacturing sector between 2014-2022 increased by 57 per cent over the previous eight years, 2006-2014, due to Make in India mission. This information has been provided by India’s Junior Minister for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash in the Parliament. The Make in India initiative was launched on September 25, 2014, to facilitate investment, foster innovation, building best in class infrastructure, and Make in India a hub for manufacturing, design and innovation. The development of a robust manufacturing sector continues to be a key priority of the Indian Government. Since its…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: New York City on Wednesday banned TikTok on government-owned devices citing ‘security concerns’ thus joining the list of more than two dozen states that have restricted access to the short video app, New York Times reported. Notably, several government officials have been restricting access to TikTok in reaction to concerns that the app — owned by the Chinese company ByteDance — could give Beijing access to sensitive user data. Jonah Allon, a spokesman for Mayor Eric Adams, said in a statement on Wednesday that the city’s Cyber Command is determined that the app “posed a security threat to…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host a mega multilateral military exercise next year that was originally planned for October. The exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti’, is likely to be held in the middle of 2024 as a number of participating air forces conveyed to the IAF that they will not be able to join the wargame if it is held this year, sources in the defence and military establishment said on Wednesday. The exercise is expected to witness participation of around 12 air forces and the focus of the wargame will be to improve military cooperation and enhance interoperability,…

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Smita Pant was addressing an event commemorating the martyrdom anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports Times Now News. Bangabandhu and his family members were killed in cold blood in 1975, said Pant, adding, the perpetrators, however, were unable to eliminate his values. The dreams of Bangabandhu, “who has few equals in history,” are coming true today, she said. The people have rejected extremism, Bangladesh is on its road to becoming a middle-income country, and it provides more UN peacekeepers than almost any other country, the MEA official said. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Mohammed Mustafizur Rahman, opened…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Ina Krisnamurthi, Indonesia’s Ambassador to India has hailed India’s G20 presidency saying that it has added value and expressed confidence and hope that India through its G20 Summit will bring all leaders together on the table. While speaking to ANI, the envoy pointed out that continuity and convergence of agenda of emerging economies are on the table and also between multilateral fora for the benefit of emerging economies. “It’s one of the biggest engagement of leaders. So, I wish India all the very best logistically and substantively. India has done tremendously in bridging all differences. This presidency has…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a rare two-day military talks, India and China agreed to resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in an “expeditious manner” besides maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas, a joint statement said on Tuesday, a day after conclusion of the dialogue. However, the readout on the 19th round of India-China Corps Commander-level meeting did not indicate any immediate breakthrough in disengagement of troops in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. It was for the first time, the high-level military talks on the lingering border row spanned two days,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China’s soaring levels of youth unemployment have heightened fears the world’s second-largest economy is heading for a crippling slowdown. Beijing has come up with a solution: It will stop releasing the numbers. The National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday said it would stop publishing age group-specific unemployment data this month, after China’s youth unemployment rate — for 16- to 24-year-olds — rose to a record high of 21.3 percent in June. Some experts believe that number is actually much higher. The announcement came amid a slew of data released Tuesday that fell short of expectations, further evidence that…

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…