Top National and International Headlines of the Week transcript on 16 December 2023
In top national news: The Delhi Police Thursday evening arrested Kolkata resident Lalit Jha, the fifth accused in the Parliament security breach, amid a political face-off between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress over a photo that featured Jha and TMC MLA Tapas Roy. Jha, 32, had shared this photograph with Roy — taken at a Saraswati Puja event — on his Instagram page on February 23, 2020. In response, Roy said, “A social media post has no value. As a public representative, I have so many supporters and associates. Let there be an investigation. If proved, I will leave politics.”
Multiple searches have been launched by the Delhi police to nab the sixth suspect, who is believed to be one of the main conspirators behind the Parliament security breach. A Kolkata-based teacher, Lalit Jha, along with the five others accused, wanted to commit an act which could draw the country’s attention to them, police told news agency PTI. The four suspects who have been arrested so far were charged under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act earlier today. As many as eight security personnel were suspended by the Lok Sabha secretariat over the massive security breach that took place at the Parliament on Wednesday.
Next up: Before adjourning for the day on Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed a resolution to suspend nine more MPs for the remainder of the ongoing Winter Session. Including Derek O’Brien’s suspension from the Rajya Sabha, a total of 15 MPs have been suspended from both the Houses. Opposition leaders raised slogans against the major security breach on Wednesday, wherein two people with smoke canisters entered the Lok Sabha. Leaders of the Opposition were captured chanting slogans of ‘PM sadan me aao, Amit Shah sharam karo’ in both Houses. Meanwhile, after suspending TO’Brien for the remainder of the session, the Rajya Sabha adopted a motion to refer his matter to the Committee of Privileges for his alleged misconduct amid the uproar.
Meanwhile, a day after Mohan Yadav took charge as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, the BJP government demolished the homes of three men accused of attacking a party worker — the first such bulldozer action under the new dispensation. This comes a day after Yadav issued an order banning loudspeakers/ DJs at religious gatherings and public places at a volume exceeding prescribed limits, and announced an “intensive campaign” to check “illegal buying and selling of meat, fish, etc”. On Thursday, around 10 meat shops were demolished. According to police, on December 5, Devendra Singh Thakur, the mandal general secretary of the BJP jhuggi jhopri cell, was allegedly attacked with a sword by one Farukh, following an argument over the election results.
In top international news: Israel vowed to keep fighting in Gaza until it crushes Hamas after one of the deadliest single battles of the war for its soldiers, even as it faces mounting international calls for a cease-fire and unease on the part of its closest ally, the United States. The ambush in Gaza City, one of the hardest hit areas of the war, showed Hamas’ resilience and called into question whether Israel could defeat it without wiping out the entire territory. Support for Hamas has surged among Palestinians — in part because of the militant group’s stiff resistance to a far more powerful foe — while the U.S. has expressed growing discomfort over civilian deaths.
In news from Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow is in dialogue with the United States on the issue of bringing home jailed Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich and the Kremlin hopes to “find a solution,” even though “it’s not easy.” Putin spoke about Whelan and Gershkovich during his year-end press conference in response to a question about a recent offer the Biden administration made to secure the two men’s release. The US State Department reported it earlier this month, without offering details, and said Russia rejected it. Putin said that Moscow is not refusing to bring the two Americans back home, wondering somewhat rhetorically in passing: “Why would they commit offences on Russian soil?”
In news from Pakistan: Pakistan’s Supreme Court Wednesday allowed the trial of civilians by the military courts, conditionally suspending its October 23 ruling in which it had ordered authorities to conduct the hearing of the cases of ex-premier Imran Khan’s supporters arrested for their alleged role in May 9 violence in ordinary courts. A six-member Supreme Court bench, in a 5-1 majority order, announced its verdict on a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) challenging its previous ruling. Justice Musarrat Hilali, the only woman judge on the bench, dissented from it. During the hearing, Attorney General Mansoor Awan urged the court to conditionally allow the military trials of civilian suspects to be resumed.
Lastly: United Nations climate negotiators directed the world to transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels in a move the talks chief called historic, despite critics’ worries about loopholes. Within minutes of opening Wednesday’ session, COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber gaveled approval of the central document — the global stocktake that says how far the world is off-track its climate-fighting goals and how it is going to get back — without asking for comments. “It is a plan that is led by the science,’’ al-Jaber said. “It is an enhanced, balanced but make no mistake, a historic package to accelerate climate action. It is the UAE consensus.”
