Two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed in an encounter with Kashmiri police in Kupwara on Thursday. The security officials found several incriminating goods in their possession, including arms and ammunition.
France’s Constitutional Council rejected the opposition’s call for a referendum or a new bill to scrap the government’s latest pension reforms that will increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. The constitutional body said the amendments did not address a “reform regarding social policy,” and thus did not “satisfy conditions.”
US President Joe Biden congratulated Indian-origin ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga on his appointment as the next World Bank President. Banga is the first person of Indian origin to occupy the position. In his statement, Biden claimed that Banga would be a “transformative leader,” bringing expertise, innovation, and experience to the role. The US President also said that he expects Banga to bring the private and public sectors together to transform the World Bank on a fundamental level.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, called out the UN Security Council (UNSC) for lack of representation and inclusivity. Speaking at the UNSC Open Debate on “Future-Proofing Trust for Sustaining Peace” in New York, on Wednesday, Kamboj said that the Council cannot be inclusive till it gives representation to Africa, Latin America, and India, and that by making five members more equal than others, the council perpetuates inequality. Emphasising the need to cooperate with regional organisations to tackle global challenges, she added that the UNSC should adopt a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, and political processes critical to sustaining peace.
US climate envoy John Kerry said on Wednesday that China had invited him to visit the country “in the near term” to discuss tackling the global climate change crisis. Kerry said that both countries must work together to address the issue. “This has to be cooperative, notwithstanding other differences that do exist. This is not a bilateral issue. This is a universal global threat to everybody in every nation,” Kerry said.
France and Japan signed a nuclear cooperation agreement after French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher met the Japanese Minister of Trade, Economy and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura in Paris. They discussed strengthening technical cooperation on the nuclear fuel cycle and building a supply chain involving only countries sharing “common values.”
In response to Kyiv’s alleged drone strike on the Kremlin, the Russian Presidential Press Service reported on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin was unharmed. The press service claimed two unmanned aerial vehicles attempted to strike the Russian President’s residence. The press service said, “Timely action by the military and special services involving radar systems enabled them to disable the devices.” It also warned that Russia could retaliate “wherever and whenever it deems appropriate.”
On Wednesday, NATO’s Intelligence chief David Cattler warned that Russia might disrupt underwater cables as retaliation for Western countries’ support for Ukraine, as the alliance ramps up efforts to defend undersea infrastructure in the aftermath of the Nord Stream attacks. Cattler told the reporters that Russia is “actively mapping” the infrastructure of Ukraine’s allies both on land and underwater. He added the Russians are more active in this domain than in recent years, increasing their actions in the North and Baltic seas. Cattler stated that undersea cables, which transmit 95% of internet data, were also potentially at risk.
Iran seized another oil tanker in the Gulf waters on Wednesday, leading the US State Department to call for its release. The Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s prosecutor announced that the tanker was seized on a judicial order after a plaintiff filed a complaint. No other details were provided. This is the latest in a series of seizures or attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf waters since 2019, including the recent seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al Assad on Wednesday in Damascus — the first visit by an Iranian President to Syria in 13 years. The two leaders signed a ‘Comprehensive Programme of Strategic and Long-Term Cooperation’ between their countries. Fourteen other pacts covering energy, commerce, transport, communications, and disaster relief were also inked.