Top National and International Headlines of the Week transcript on 24 December 2023
In top national news: India was granted consular access on at least three occasions to Nikhil Gupta, detained in a Czech prison and accused by the US of plotting to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun at the behest of an Indian official. Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “An Indian national is currently in the custody of Czech authorities pending a request for extradition to the US. We have received consular access, at least I am aware of, on at least three occasions. We are extending necessary consular assistance to the individual as per requirement.”
Sanjay Singh has been elected President of Wrestling Federation of India. Sanjay defeated Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning wrestler Anita Sheoran 40 votes to 7. After winning the elections, Sanjay took a potshot at some of India’s top wrestlers like Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat who had protested against the controversial Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh since December last year. Sanjay will take over the reins as the WFI chief from the controversial Brij Bhushan, who had to step aside after India’s top wrestlers like Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh levelled serious allegations against him.
In news from South: The Madras High Court today sentenced Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his wife, P Visalakshi, to three years of simple imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case. Additionally, Justice G Jayachandran imposed a fine of Rs. 50 lakh each on Ponmudy and his wife, with a provision of six more months of imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine. The judgment also allows for 30 days for the convicts to appeal to the Supreme Court. The case was registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption during AIADMK rule in 2011. Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Welfare Minister RS Rajakannappan was allocated portfolios held by Ponmudy.
Moving on: The Ministry of Home Affairs asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to conduct a survey of the Parliament building and its premises for the regular deployment of its security wing and fire wing personnel before taking charge. After conducting the survey, the CISF will submit its report, take over the security charge from the Delhi Police and start working with Parliament Security Services. The decision was taken after the MHA ordered a probe into the December 13 Parliament security breach and an inquiry committee headed by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Anish Dayal Singh found that there were lapses at the security entrance, especially during frisking of visitors.
In top international news: After nearly a week of intense negotiations, the United States said Thursday night that it was ready to support a United Nations Security Council resolution that would call for more desperately needed aid to enter the Gaza Strip. A vote was not expected until today at the earliest. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, told reporters that the US had “worked hard and diligently over the course of the past week” with the countries that had proposed the resolution, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, to ensure that “we put a mechanism on the ground that will support humanitarian assistance and we’re ready to vote for it.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said India’s ties with Canada may have undergone “a tonal shift” following the indictment of an Indian national in the US for plotting an assassination attempt on a Sikh separatist on American soil. He said the US indictment appears to have convinced the Indian government to adopt a more sober tone. “There’s an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada isn’t going to make this problem go away.” The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau’s allegations on September 18 of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18.
In news from China: China has stepped up rescue and relief work in the earthquake-hit areas of Gansu and Qinghai provinces in the country’s northwest where the death toll on Wednesday climbed to 131 with over 700 injured. Amidst the biting cold, rescuers were making frantic efforts to pull those who were still stuck under the rubble of collapsed structures. Monday’s 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed 113 people and injured 782 others in Gansu Province, officials told media in Jishishan county, which witnessed widespread destruction. The earthquake, the worst in nine years, also has claimed 18 lives in neighbouring Qinghai Province, with 16 people still missing, local authorities said.
Lastly; The European Union on Thursday paid the final tranche of a multibillion-euro support package to Ukraine to help keep its war-ravaged economy afloat this year, leaving the country without a financial lifeline from Europe as of next month. The EU has sent 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) each month in 2023 to ensure macroeconomic stability and rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed in the war. It’s also helping to pay wages and pensions, keep hospitals and schools running, and provide shelter for people forced from their homes. To ensure that Ukraine has predictable, longer-term income, the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, proposed to provide the country with 50 billion euros ($55 billion).
