International Archives - Page 30 of 57

India’s Annual Hajj Quota Enhanced To 1.75 Lac Pilgrims This Yr: Nirupama Kotru

editor January 9, 2024Leave a comment

JAMMU, Jan 9: India's yearly Hajj quota has been increased to 1.75 lakh pilgrims per year, according to Joint Secretary Minority Affairs Nirupama Kotru, a Kashmiri Pandit who was a member of the Indian delegation led by Union Minister Smriti Irani to sign the Hajj Agreement 2023. She stated that the Saudi government has decided to increase India's annual quota of first-time Hajj pilgrims to 1.75 lakh under the terms of the new Agreement 2024. The agreement's positive aspect, according to her, is that the majority of Hajj pilgrims this year will come from J&K. Additionally, J&K residents will be given priority over anyone on the waiting list who cancels their application or leaves the list.We now trail just Indonesia and Pakistan. Even so, we have asked the Saudi authorities to raise the quota to two lakh every year starting in the following year. MoS Foreign Ministry V Murlidharan and Union Minister Smriti Irani oversaw the arrangement. She noted that since last year's noteworthy initiative allowed women to perform the Hajj without a "Mehram," 6,000 applications from women wishing to go the Hajj without a "Mehram" had already been received this year. We predict that the number will rise even further this year compared to last. Additionally, we have made sure that anyone who wants to make this holy pilgrimage has no trouble finding facilities or anything else during our stay, the speaker continued.According to Nirupama, the Union Minister in charge of the facilities for Hajj travellers is herself, and she has had lengthy discussions with Saudi officials about how to better accommodate Indian pilgrims travelling on the Hajj. [caption id="attachment_8663" align="alignnone" width="300"] India’s Annual Hajj Quota Enhanced To 1.75 Lac Pilgrims This Yr: Nirupama Kotru[/caption]

Israeli Strike Kills Hezbollah Commander In Lebanon: Official

editor January 8, 2024Leave a comment

BEIRUT, Jan 8: Israel killed a senior commander of the Hezbollah organisation, which is supported by Iran, in an attack on southern Lebanon, a security source said AFP, heightening concerns that the Gaza battle may get worse. The security officer, who asked to remain anonymous due to security concerns, stated that the commander "had a leading role in managing Hezbollah's operations in the south." He "was killed in an Israeli strike targeting his car in the south," the spokesman continued. According to the official, the commander occupied multiple other prominent roles within the Shia movement. Following the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, Hezbollah and its fierce rival Israel have been exchanging gunfire across the border almost every day.However, there are now concerns about a wider conflict following the assassination of Hamas' deputy leader in Beirut last week. In the first attack on Beirut since the conflict began, Saleh al-Aruri, the most well-known Hamas figure to die, was killed in a missile strike that was largely blamed to Israel. In an effort to keep Lebanon out of the Israel-Hamas crisis, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell met with a political representative of Hezbollah on Saturday in Beirut. According to an AFP count, over 180 individuals have died in Lebanon as a result of cross-border gunfire in over three months. This number includes over 135 Hezbollah militants as well as over 20 civilian deaths, including three journalists.Israeli officials report that four civilians and nine troops have died in northern Israel. [caption id="attachment_8630" align="alignnone" width="300"] Israeli Strike Kills Hezbollah Commander In Lebanon: Official[/caption]

J&K Admin Imposes Night Curfew Along International Border In Samba

editor January 8, 2024Leave a comment

JAMMU, Jan 8: According to an official order, a night curfew has been implemented along the International Border (IB) in the Samba region of Jammu & Kashmir to improve area dominance by BSF personnel and prevent any illicit activity near the borderline. According to the order issued by District Magistrate Abhishek Sharma on Sunday, the action was done to prevent cross-border infiltration and the smuggling of weapons using drones in the extremely foggy weather conditions prevalent along the Indo-Pak border line. The directive states that civilian movement along a one-kilometer stretch from the IB in the Samba district has been prohibited from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.The DM issued the order, using Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to establish a night curfew along the International Border (IB). "No person or group of persons shall move in the area up to one kilometre along the International Border in district Samba from 2100 hours to 0600 hours during the night," the DM stated. The directive came about as a result of recommendations made by Border Security Force (BSF) authorities to the district-level standing committee. The BSF suggested imposing a daily night curfew on a one-kilometer-long strip from the IB to help them carry out their duties more efficiently. "The district administration believes that restricting people's movement in border areas is necessary to improve border area domination by the BSF and undermine the devious plans of forces hostile to Indian security," the DM stated in the directive. According to Sharma, if movement is required, the person or people in question must provide their corresponding ID cards to the BSF and police officials. "Anyone found in violation of the previously issued order will face legal consequences." "This order is being issued ex-parte, as it cannot be served individually," the order stated.It further stated, "If not withdrawn or rescinded earlier, this order shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of two months from the date of its issuance." [caption id="attachment_8603" align="alignnone" width="300"] J&K Admin Imposes Night Curfew Along International Border In Samba[/caption]

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina secures 4th straight term in polls amid boycott by Opposition

editor January 8, 2024Leave a comment

JAN 08, 2024 : With her Awami League party winning an overwhelming majority in the general elections tainted by intermittent violence and a boycott by the main opposition BNP and its allies, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has earned a record fourth consecutive term in office. 223 seats were gained by Hasina's party in the 300-seat Parliament. There were 299 seats up for election. A candidate's death has resulted in a postponed election for one seat, per media sources. The Jatiya Party, which is the biggest opposition in Parliament, gained 11 seats; the Bangladesh Kallyan party won one seat; and 62 seats went to independent candidates. Each party got one seat: the Workers Party of Bangladesh and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. Hasina, seventy-six.also the Awami League president, won the Gopalganj-3 constituency with a resounding victory, earning her a seventh term in parliament. With the second-lowest turnout since democracy was restored in 1991, Hasina, who has ruled the strategically positioned South Asian nation since 2009, won a record-breaking fourth straight term and fifth term overall in the lopsided election. In the contentious elections held in February 1996, the turnout was 26.5%, the lowest in Bangladesh's history.The Election Commission anticipated that the final tally might stand at about 40% when voting closed at 4:00 pm on Sunday. This is a 13% increase in turnout in just one hour. As of 3:00 pm, the turnout in the election was 27.15 percent. Hasina will likely become Bangladesh's longest-serving prime leader since the country's independence with this victory. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia and which abstained from voting and observed a strike on election day, declared on Tuesday that it will be stepping up its anti-government campaign with a nonviolent public engagement programme starting on Tuesday, branding the polls as "fake." The low participation, according to the party officials, proved their boycott campaign was effective. They declared that under this initiative, the right to vote will be created and peaceful democratic protests would be expedited. The results of the polls on Sunday, which pitted Awami League candidates against "independents" from the party, didn't seem to interest the electorate. In response to the BNP's call for a boycott in the run-up to the election, the Hasina government allegedly employed a number of tactics, including applying pressure. Tens of thousands of opposition politicians and supporters were detained by Hasina's government prior to the elections; human rights organisations have denounced this action as an attempt to immobilise the opposition.In an attempt to make the election appear competitive and participatory, Hasina asked all of her party's officials and volunteers to run as independent candidates. She went for a tight-knit seat-sharing arrangement with the Jatiya Party and other allies. However, the surprising triumphs of these independent candidates have fundamentally changed the political landscape, raising the possibility of a new phase of intraparty rivalry inside the ruling party. By casting their votes, the public, according to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, has rejected the boycott of the election by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. "I sincerely thank those who braved the fear of vandalism, arson, and terrorism to participate in the 12th national parliamentary elections," Quader stated. Despite the largely peaceful voting, officials and the mainstream media reported at…

header International Jammu and Kashmir National

Migratory birds transform Jammu’s Gharana wetland into ‘bird-watching paradise’

editor January 8, 2024

JAMMU: Thousands of migratory birds, from egrets to bar-headed geese, descend on the Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve near the International Border in the outskirts of Jammu city each year in a stunning natural occurrence. About 6,000 bar-headed geese and other species from the northern hemisphere travel to the marsh, which is about 35 km from Jammu, every winter, making it a "haven for bird enthusiasts." Over 6,000 different kinds of migrating birds, mostly bar-headed geese, make their annual visit to the Gharana Wetland. Over 3,000 to 4,000 of these birds have flown in from the northern hemisphere this year. The Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve's (GWCR) in-charge, Simple Singh, stated that more of them are anticipated.According to him, the quantity of migrating birds using this winter habitat rises year. "Everything for guests is being organised here by the department of wildlife. Schools take their kids on field trips to the Gharana', Singh continued. During the winter months, hundreds of people swarm the marsh, usually photographers and students hoping to catch a sight of the migratory birds. Asvina, an Institute of Music and Fine Arts student, remarked, "It is an ideal place for wildlife photography as you get to shoot over 300 species of migratory birds, particularly Siberian cranes." "I enjoy taking pictures of outdoors, wildlife, and birds. This place is a bird lover's dream, therefore I'm thrilled to be here," Asvina remarked.Sakshi, a student at Jammu University, adds that visiting this place offers the chance to learn about all facets of the natural world, including birds. "There were a lot of people in this area. We've been able to photograph in close proximity to nature and get knowledge of several facets of photography," she remarked. More than 170 people live in the Gharana village of the GWCR, which is surrounded by wetlands in Makwal, Kukdian, Abdullian, and Pargwal. During the winter, migratory bird species like bar-headed geese, gadwalls, common teals, purple swamp hens, Indian moorhens, black-winged stilts, cormorants, egrets, and green shanks flock there, according to officials. Gurdaspur, Punjab's Rohit Kumar remarked, "I am amazed to see so many different bird species here. We came here to view the migratory birds because my maternal uncle had told me about their flying to Gharana," he added. Despite measures to safeguard the avian visitors, the wetland on the Indo-Pak border has seen an increase in foot traffic. According to the officials, construction projects like fencing are being carried out in order to safeguard migrating birds and their wintering grounds. "A number of migratory bird species visit this area from overseas, including the Siberian crane. We were delighted to witness a variety of exquisite migratory birds passing through this area. They are ignorant of international boundaries. According to them, this is a world without borders," Farmers Produce Organisation (FPO) member Sidharth Kumar remarked. Gharana is located on the Central Asian Flyway and was designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International (UK). According to the officials, conservation efforts, such as scientific management interventions and a five-year management plan created in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), are intended to protect the wetland, encourage ecotourism, and elevate its standing as an important travel destination. They also stated that the administration is dedicated to protecting this important migratory bird habitat. [caption id="attachment_8561" align="alignnone" width="300"] Migratory birds transform Jammu's Gharana…

header International Ladakh National

IAF’s C-130J Aircraft Makes Night Landing At Kargil Advanced Landing Ground

editor January 7, 2024

NEW DELHI, Jan 7: The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a night landing at the high-altitude Kargil advanced landing field close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan using a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft for the first time. According to those familiar with the situation, the IAF's operational capabilities in the strategically important area were shown by the tactical lift aircraft's night arrival at the Kargil airfield, carrying the elite Garud commandos. Recently, there was a night landing.It was the first time a cargo plane made a night landing, even though IAF aircraft had previously operated from the advanced landing site. "Recently, at the Kargil airstrip, an IAF C-130 J aircraft made a historic night landing. The exercise also coincided with a Garuds training trip, using terrain masking en route, the IAF stated on "X." Around 10,500 feet is the altitude of the Kargil airfield. In accordance with operational needs, the military ministry has also been concentrating on improving infrastructure at practically all airfields along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including the Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs).In particular, it is improving the infrastructure at the airport at Nyoma and the Daulat Beg Oldi Advanced Landing Ground (ALG). The highest airfield in the world, the Daulat Beg Oldi ALG, is situated near the LAC at a height of 16,700 feet. During the severe winter months, Daulat Beg Oldi experiences temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius. At an elevation of around 13,000 feet, the Nyoma airfield may be found. [caption id="attachment_8545" align="alignnone" width="300"] IAF’s C-130J Aircraft Makes Night Landing At Kargil Advanced Landing Ground[/caption]

Business header International National Political

Rajnath Singh To Visit U.K., The First By A Defence Minister In 22 Yrs

editor January 7, 2024

NEW DELHI, Jan 7: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a two-day visit to the U.K. on January 8 to rejuvenate strategic and security ties between the two countries, including possible collaboration to jointly…

Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Oregon After Window And Chunk Of Fuselage Blow Out

editor January 6, 2024Leave a comment

PORTLAND, Jan 6: Not long after takeoff, a window and a portion of the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines aircraft blew out in midair, forcing an emergency landing in Oregon on Friday. A photo of a massive hole in the airplane's side next to the passenger seats was sent to KATU-TV by a traveller. It was unclear right away if anyone had been hurt. According to the airline, the aircraft, carrying 174 passengers and 6 crew members, landed safely. The airline said via email that "Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California experienced an incident this evening shortly after departure." The airline promised to provide more details as soon as they were made available.Flight tracking data indicates that the plane was diverted approximately six minutes after takeoff at 5:07 p.m. after reaching a height of 16,000 feet (4,876 metres). At 5:26 p.m., it landed once more. The crew reported a pressurisation problem, and the plane landed safely, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The organisation promised to look into it. In a post on X, the National Transportation Safety Board stated that it was looking into an incident that occurred during the flight and would provide updates as soon as they became available. Online FAA records show that the Boeing 737-9 MAX was certified and flown off the assembly line just two months ago. Boeing said it was aware of the incident, was attempting to obtain additional details, and was prepared to assist with the investigation.Boeing's venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle aircraft that is widely utilised on domestic flights in the United States, has a new model called the Max. The aircraft was put into operation in May 2017. All Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft were grounded globally for almost two years after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 claimed 346 lives. Only after Boeing modified an automated flight control system linked to the crashes did the aircraft go back into service. [caption id="attachment_8475" align="alignnone" width="300"] Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Oregon After Window And Chunk Of…

“Bharat Mata ki Jai”: Indian crew of MV Lila Norfolk thanks Indian Navy

editor January 6, 2024Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: The crew members of the Indian-owned vessel MV Lili Norfolk expressed their gratitude to the Indian Navy for saving them. Off the coast of Somalia, the Indian Navy successfully evacuated the hijacked ship MV Lila Norfolk on Friday. The crew members are seen thanking the Indian Navy and chanting "Bharat Mata ki Jai" in a video that the Navy posted. "We were stuck for 24 hours," stated an Indian who was saved by the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy arrived to save them, so we were relieved." "Proud of the Indian Navy," remarked a second man. On January 6, 2024, the Indian Navy's marine commandos freed 21 crew members—including 15 Indians—from the hijacked MV Lila Norfolk, which was flying the Liberian flag.After armed pirates attempted to take over the ship, the crew members were saved in a quick operation in the North Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy said, "Indian Navy's Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea," in a statement published on X on Friday. The 21 crew members—including the 15 Indians—safely left the citadel. The hijackers' absence has been confirmed by MARCOs' sanitation efforts." The statement stated that the pirates' attempt at hijacking was likely abandoned after receiving a strong warning from the Indian Navy, MPA, about possible interception by Indian Naval warships. INS Chennai is close to the MV and is providing assistance to restart the power generation and propulsion so that the vessel can start her journey to the next port of call. [caption id="attachment_8472" align="alignnone" width="300"] "Bharat Mata ki Jai": Indian crew of MV Lila Norfolk thanks Indian…

India Closed A Window It Was “Foolish Enough” To Open: Jaishankar On Art 370 Abrogation

editor January 6, 2024Leave a comment

BENGALURU, Jan 6: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that the decision to take the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 1948 was a “fundamental error” and by abrogating…

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