Defence Ministry clears arms procurement worth Rs 28,732cr for Army

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS): The Union government has approved the arms procurement proposals worth over Rs 28,000 crore, including swarm drones, bulletproof jackets and close-quarter battle carbines. The proposals were cleared on Tuesday by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. These proposals will enhance the overall combat prowess of the armed forces along the northern and western borders. “The Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals of the armed forces amounting to Rs 28,732 crore were accorded by the DAC,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The approval to the new procurement proposals came amid India’s lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh. The Ministry said the approval to procure four lakh close-quarter battle carbines was granted to combat the “current complex paradigm of conventional and hybrid warfare” and terrorism at the borders. “To combat the current complex paradigm of conventional and hybrid warfare and counter-terrorism at the borders, AoN for induction of approx. Four lakh of close quarter battle carbines for the services have also been accorded by the DAC,” it said. The Ministry said the decision is set to provide a major impetus to the small arms manufacturing industry in the country and enhance “Atmanirbharta” (self-reliance) in small arms. “Considering the demand for enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snipers to our troops deployed along the Line of Control, and in close combat operations in counter-terrorism scenario, the DAC accorded AoN for bulletproof jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection,” it said. On the procurement of the armed swarm drones, the Ministry said these are being acquired as drone technology has proved to be a force multiplier in military operations. “In the recent conflicts across the world, drone technology proved to be a force multiplier in military operations. Accordingly, to augment the Indian Army’s capability in modern warfare, AoN for procurement of autonomous surveillance and armed drone swarms has been accorded by the DAC under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category,” it said. The DAC has also approved the Navy’s proposal to procure an upgraded 1,250-KW capacity marine gas turbine generator for power generation application onboard the Kolkata class of ships through the Indian industry. “This will give a major boost to the indigenous manufacturing of gas turbine generators,” the Ministry said. To enhance the security in the coastal region of the country, the DAC has also approved the proposal of procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) with 60 per cent indigenous content, the Ministry added.

Lok Sabha passes Family Court Amendment Bill

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS): The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Family Court Amendment Bill. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 18, 2022. It allows state governments to establish Family Courts, and the Central government is empowered to notify dates for the Act to come into force in different states. Speaking in the Parliament, Law Minister Kiren Rijuju has expressed concern over the pendency of cases which are reaching 5 crore despite fast disposal of cases. He said the rate of disposal is also high but the cases are being filed as well. The Minister also that the government does not interfere in the appointment of judges but it can’t appoint anyone as it has also the process of due diligence and the government has every right to do that. The Bill seeks to extend retrospectively the Act to the state of Himachal Pradesh, with effect from February 15, 2019, and to the state of Nagaland, with effect from September 12, 2008. The establishment of Family Courts in both the states will be retrospectively valid from these dates. All actions taken under the Act in both the states, including the appointment of judges, and orders and judgments passed by the Family Courts, will also be deemed to be valid from these dates retrospectively.

J&K to focus on homestays to cater to increasing tourist rush

Srinagar, July 27 (IANS) To cater to growing footfall of tourists to Kashmir valley, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration is committed to make availability of 50,000 rooms for the increasing demand of accommodation through the ‘Homestay’ initiative. This was announced by J&K Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta while inaugurating a homestay cluster at Srinagar’s Jharokha Bagh on Tuesday. Maintaining that tourism has grown manifold in J&K during 2022 as compared to 2021, Mehta said that the benefits of this bumper arrival of tourists to the Valley should trickle down to all, especially locals of various tourist destinations. “In order to cater this growing footfall of tourists, the Union Territory administration is encouraging, guiding and handholding local population at various tourist destinations for the Homestay initiative,” Mehta added while interacting with one of a proprietor of homestay cluster at Jharokha Bagh village overseeing Manasbal Lake. He hoped that nearly 50,000 rooms would be made available through the Homestay initiative across the various tourist destinations for which 75 locations have already been identified in other districts of J&K. “This is just a beginning,” he

reaffirmed and added that a lot of people from outside J&K are willing to visit it and the Homestay initiative would send a positive message to them to visit this beautiful place. Railway is coming and there is better road and air connectivity now for Kashmir, people will definitely throng Kashmir in huge numbers for its beauty, he added.

‘Adequate stocks’: Govt says amid HIV patients’ protest over drugs shortage

Indian minister hosts dinner for WA Deputy Premier

Indian Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi recently hosted a dinner reception for the Deputy Premier of Western Australia (WA) Roger Cook and the Australian delegation in New Delhi. New Delhi, July 27 (IANS): A group of HIV patients from last few days have been protesting before the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) office in Delhi over the shortage of crucial anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs at government centres recommended to control the infection from progressing. NACO centrally procures ARV medicines for people living with HIV as per national guidelines. India provides free ARV medicines for life-long treatment of more than 14.5 lakh People Living with HIV (PLHIV) through 680 anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres under its National AIDS Control Programme, funded by the Government of India. The protestors said ART centres claimed that there was a shortage of medicines at Delhi’s major hospitals such as Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. However, the sources from the Health Ministry said that there is adequate stock nationally for nearly 95 per cent HIV patients in the country, who are on first and second line ARV regimens like tablet TLD (Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Dolutegravir) and other ARV regimens. “The mainstay of treatment for more than 85 per cent PLHIV is Tablet TLD (a fixed-dose combination of three anti-retroviral drugs -- Tenofovir (300mg) + Lamivudine (300mg) + Dolutegravir (50mg)), for which there is sufficient stock nationally to last more than three months,” the source added. Tablet Dolutegravir (DTG)- 50mg is required for nearly 50,000 PLHIV who are either on alternate --first/ second or third-line regimens or those with TB co-infection. “There is no reported stock out for any ARV drugs at the state level and the fresh supply orders for procurement of the next lot of several drugs are already placed. Individual ART centres may have this issue at times but the medicines are immediately relocated from nearby centres,” said

478 technical snag-related incidences reported in planes in one year, says Ministry

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS): A total of 478 technical snag-related occurrences were reported in planes between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. “During operations, an aircraft may experience technical snags due to malfunctioning of components/ equipment fitted on the aircraft which require rectification by the airlines for continued safe, efficient and reliable air transport service. These technical snags are reported by the flight crew on receiving an aural or visual warning in the cockpit or an indication of an inoperative/faulty system or while experiencing difficulty in operating the aircraft,” said Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. A total of 177 surveillance, 497 spot checks and 169 night surveillance have been carried out by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on engineering and maintenance aspects of scheduled operators during the last one year (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022). Based on the violations found during surveillance, spot checks, night surveillance carried out during 2021-22, enforcement action has been taken by DGCA against responsible personnel of the airline operator in 21 instances of violations, which inter-alia includes suspension of license, withdrawal of post holder (approved personnel to the airlines involved in the maintenance of aircraft), issuance of warning letters, etc. The DGCA has laid down regulations under Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) which requires that the aircraft is maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ guidelines and all snags reported on the aircraft are rectified before the aircraft is released for flight. Further, CAR lays down the requirements for the approval of maintenance organisation which mandates the organisation to have required manpower, equipment and literature commensurate to the type and fleet to be maintained. Under the system, airline operators are required to ensure that the aircraft the source from the Ministry. The source also said that after persuasion by NACO and with active cooperation of national networks of persons living with HIV (PLHIV), four representatives of the protestors had a round of discussion with senior officers of NACO on Monday afternoon. They were informed about the position regarding drugs availability and they were told to jointly work with state AIDS control societies and NACO for the availablity of drugs at those few ART centres which were running short on supplies, temporarily, it added.

are maintained in a continuous state of air-worthiness and all defects are rectified, said the Minister. DGCA has a laid down mechanism of conducting surveillance, spot checks, night surveillance etc. of the airlines/organisations and personnel to ensure safety of passenger and aircraft. The findings made during surveillance, spot checks and night surveillance are provided to the airline for taking corrective action. The action taken to correct the observations are reviewed. DGCA takes enforcement action in accordance with laid down procedures which may consist of warning, suspension, cancellation including imposition of financial penalty to the personnel involved/airline, said the reply.

Australia extends military support to Covid-hit aged care sector

Canberra, July 25 (IANS): The Australian government has extended military support for the Covid-hit aged care sector. On Monday, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) deployment into aged care facilities has been extended until the end of September, reports Xinhua news agency. It comes as more than 900 aged care centres are combating Covid-19 outbreaks, with more than 6,000 residents and 3,000 staff currently infected. “It’s important that we need to be doing everything we can to meet the challenge,” Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corporation television. “It’s not just extending the military support to aged care, it’s actually increasing it up to 250 personnel through until the end of September.” According to the Aged and Community Care Providers Association, more than 2,000 aged care residents have died with

Covid-19 in 2022 alone, accounting for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s total deaths since the start of the pandemic. The decision reflects the seriousness of the Omicron variant’s high community transmission rates and the challenges faced by aged care homes as a result, said Marles. The ADF has provided clinical and non-clinical support to aged care homes hit by Covid-19 related staffing shortages since February this year. Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the sector was struggling to find enough staff. “We simply cannot find the staff,” she said on Monday. “People are doing double shifts. People are working every single day without breaking, which is an incredibly stressful environment.” Australia on Monday reported more than 30,000 new Covid-19 cases and over 10 deaths. The country’s total pandemic death toll surpassed 11,000 over the weekend, only about three weeks after hitting 10,000.

Monkeypox: 95% spread occurred via sexual activity, says study

Sydney, July 22 (IANS): Sexual closeness is the most likely route of transmission in 95 per cent of monkeypox cases, according to a global case study series from across 16 countries. However, the virus can be transmitted by any close physical contact through large respiratory droplets and potentially through clothing and other surfaces, said researchers at Queen Mary University of London. In the study, the team reported 528 infections diagnosed between April 27 and June 24, 2022, at 43 sites in 16 countries. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), showed 95 per cent of the persons presented with a rash (with 64 per cent having less than 10 lesions), 73 per cent had anogenital lesions, and 41 per cent had mucosal lesions (with 54 having a single genital lesion). Overall, 98 per cent of the persons with infection were gay or bisexual men, 75 per cent were white, and 41 per cent had human immunodeficiency virus infection. Common systemic features preceding the rash included fever (62 per cent), lethargy (41 per cent), myalgia (31 per cent), and headache (27 per cent); lymphadenopathy -- swelling of lymph nodes -- was also common (reported in 56 per cent). Concomitant sexually transmitted infections were reported in 109 of 377 persons (29 per cent) who were tested. Among the 23 persons with a clear exposure history, the median incubation period was 7 days. Monkeypox virus DNA was detected in 29 of the 32 persons in whom seminal fluid was analysed. In addition, the study also identified new clinical presentations in people with monkeypox, not recognised in current medical definitions of monkeypox. These symptoms include single genital lesions and sores on the mouth or anus. The clinical symptoms are similar to those of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis or herpes and can easily lead to misdiagnosis. In some people, anal and oral symptoms have led to people being admitted to hospital for management of pain and difficulties swallowing. It’s important that these new clinical symptoms be recognised and healthcare professionals be educated on how to identify and manage the disease - misdiagnosis can slow detection and thus hinder efforts to control the spread of the virus, the team said. “We have shown that the current international case definitions need to be expanded to add symptoms that are not currently included, such as sores in the mouth, on the anal mucosa and single ulcers. These particular symptoms can be severe and have led to hospital admissions so it is important to make a diagnosis,” said Chloe Orkin, Professor of HIV Medicine at QMUL. “We have also found monkeypox virus in a large proportion of the semen samples tested from people with monkeypox. However, this may be incidental as we do not know that it is present at a high enough levels to facilitate sexual transmission. More work is needed to understand this better,” added Dr John Thornhill, Consultant Physician in Sexual Health. These findings will improve future diagnosis, help to slow the spread of infection and help the international community prioritise the limited global supply of monkeypox vaccines and treatments to communities most at risk, the researchers said.

Australia’s first gas-to-grid project kicks off in Sydney

Sydney, July 19 (IANS): Australia has started its first trial of generating gigajoules of biomethane from wastewater, which will see renewable biomethane support the energy demands of up to 13,000 homes. The government of the New South Wales (NSW) state announced the trial on Tuesday, which has commenced at Sydney Water’s Malabar Wastewater Resource Recovery Plant. It will deliver reliable and cleaner gas to Sydneysiders and help to reduce the carbon footprint of households, Xinhua news agency reported. “The wastewater resource recovery facility will create approximately 95,000 gigajoules of biomethane from organic material in wastewater to supply gas to around 6,300 homes by the end of the year, with the capacity to double production by 2030,” said NSW Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson. “This five-year pilot will put gas directly into the supply network and will also help industries across NSW meet their net-zero emissions targets, with the facility able to turn waste material into a new clean energy source.” Sydney Water’s General Manager for Asset Lifecycle Paul Plowman said this project is expected to remove 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, the equivalent of almost 2,000 cars off the road. The first renewable gas products are due to be completed by the end of this year. They will be supplied to Sydney’s network soon after.

Australia’s largest music festival forges ahead despite extreme weather

Sydney, July 23 (IANS): After a last-minute cancellation on day one, Australia’s largest music festival, Splendor in the Grass, has decided to reopen over the weekend despite concerns over extreme weather, flooding and poor conditions on the grounds. After being met with a barrage of criticism over the cancellation of day one, the event organisers cautiously announced on Saturday that the final two days of the threeday festival would go ahead. reports Xinhua news agency. “Expect delays, please work with us when entering the festival... You’re going to have to allow for extra travel time,” said a spokesperson for Splendor in the Grass on Saturday. They added that most programming is expected to go ahead with partial refunds being issued due to the disruption, organisers had been conducting repairs overnight including pumping out water from flooded campsites and repairing stages and walkways. Organisers have advised patrons to wear gumboots and warm clothing over the weekend. The three-day event, held in Byron Bay, a town along the coast of New South Wales (NSW), was due to begin on Friday. However, festival-goers were met with an eight-hour-long car queue and flooded campgrounds. Festival organisers made the decision to cancel the main acts early on Friday afternoon, citing warnings from the state’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). Responding to the disruptions, ticket holders have complained that the site festival is flood-prone and unsuitable for such an event and that there was a lack of communication ahead of the last-minute cancellation. Many took to social media to vent their frustrations and call for greater financial reimbursement. The sudden weather has led to an anticlimactic end to a three-year wait for the annual festival which normally attracts between 40,000 and 50,000 people, and was cancelled for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aussie researchers create spray to keep viruses, bacteria at bay

Sydney, July 22: Researchers from Australian universities developed a spray that can stop the spread of bacteria and viruses, including the Covid-19 virus. Published in the journal Advanced Science, the long-lasting spray coats common surfaces and repels viruses and bacteria through an air-filled barrier as well as killing pathogens, Xinhua news agency reported. One of its inventors, biomedical engineer Professor Antonio Tricoli from the University of Sydney, said the spray used a combination of plastics strong enough to be considered an alternative to bullet-proof glass. “Without a barrier, viruses such as coronaviruses can stay on surfaces and remain infectious for up to a week,” Tricoli added in an article published in Scimex on Thursday. “Other viruses, which can cause colds or diarrhoea, can remain on surfaces for several weeks, causing large outbreaks in health and agedcare facilities.” The research team, which also includes scientists from the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University, said the spray had taken five years to develop. They believed its advantages over rival products are that it lasts much longer than standard disinfectants and unlike other non-disinfectants, which contain silver nanoparticles, there are no harmful side effects, meaning it would be suitable for public settings such as lift buttons, stair railings, hospitals, schools and restaurants. University of Melbourne Professor David Nisbet said the spray has been tested on a wide range of materials, including metals, blotting paper, plastic, bricks, tiles and glass. “We have identified the mechanical processes underpinning how the spray works and quantified its effectiveness in different environments,” Nisbet added. “We believe our explanation of the mechanism behind the antimicrobial and antiviral effects could significantly advance research in antipathogen technologies that could see affordable manufacture of an effective surface spray to protect people from viruses and bacteria.” The research team has created a start-up company to make the spray commercially available within the next three years.

Many Australian businesses struggling to find workers

Sydney, July 21 (IANS): Almost 40 per cent of Australian small and medium business owners are facing labour shortages, according to one of the nation’s largest banks. New research by the National Australia Bank (NAB) revealed on Wednesday that hundreds of small and medium enterprises say their staffing shortfalls were having a “very significant” impact on their ability to operate. The survey, based on the responses of about 800 small and medium enterprises, which are businesses with less than 200 employees, showed that about one in three bosses expected the impact to continue over the next 12 months. NAB Business and Private Banking Group Executive Andrew Irvine said the findings aligned with comments he had been hearing from business owners throughout the year. “When I’m out talking with customers, the number one issue they continue to raise is labour shortages -- and this is across all sectors, and all parts of the country,” Xinhua news agency quoted Irvine as saying. “Businesses owners are crying out for more workers -- people on the shop floor, labourers to finish off jobs, drivers, pharmacy workers -- you’d be hard pressed to find a business owner who hasn’t had trouble finding people to do the job.” By state, 43 per cent of small and medium enterprises in Western Australia reported significant labour shortages, followed by 37 percent in Victoria, 35 percent in Queensland and 33 percent in New South Wales. Businesses in the health and construction sectors reported the greatest concern, with around half labelling labour shortages as being a key issue. For businesses in agriculture, hospitality and tourism, the data was more promising. In the last quarter, labour shortages in accommodation fell 32 percent, likely due to state and international borders reopening. Almost half of the small and medium enterprises believed the shortages could be solved by increasing traineeships and apprenticeships and increasing migrant intake. “As borders have opened, there have been some improvements -- but there’s much more to do,” Irvine said. “We need to look at our migration settings, how we can get more people into the labour force and our skills and training systems.” Irvine also said further government investment in training and upskilling the Indigenous workforce was important. “Finding skilled Indigenous workers is a challenge, so we want to see more skilled Indigenous people in the workforce,” he said

SL’s Wickremesinghe congratulates India’s new President

Colombo, July 25 (IANS): Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday congratulated his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu on assuming office as the 15th President of India. Extending warm felicitations, Wickremesinghe said in a statement: “Your appointment to this chief responsibility in one of the largest democracies is testimony to the trust and confidence the government and the people have placed in your caliber and political acumen.” The Sri Lankan leader also mentioned the friendship and cooperation shared by the two neighbouring nations, as well as the support provided by New Delhi to Colombo in the wake of the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation. “India and Sri Lanka enjoy warm and long-standing relations which stemmed from people to people interactions over millennia and I am glad that the time tested bonds of friendship between the two nations continue to be reinforced through ever growing cooperation and support in many spheres of strategic interests that we share. “Your leadership offers fresh impetus to our joint endeavours to nurture and strengthen the cordial ties we enjoy and I look forward to working closely with you towards this end. Please accept, excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,” Wickremesinghe noted. Facing the worst-ever economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has received from India the biggest support that would have provided by any individual country. India offered over $3.5 billion financial support since January this year in addition to essential aid, including food, medicines and fertilizer.

At least 41 structures destroyed in California’s largest wildfire of 2022

Los Angeles, July 27 (IANS) At least 41 structures have been destroyed by the Oak Fire, now the largest wildfire this year in US western state of California, authorities said. The fast-moving wildfire that began on Friday afternoon near the Yosemite National Park in central California’s Mariposa County scorched 18,087 acre (73.2 square km) with 26 per cent containment as of Tuesday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Around 1,440 structures are still under threat as nearly 3,000 firefighters, with aircraft support, are continuing their efforts against the massive wildfire, Xinhua news agency reported. “Fire crews continue providing structure defense, extinguishing hot spots, and building and improving direct fire lines,” said Cal Fire in an update on Tuesday. “Persistent drought, critically dry fuel and tree mortality continue to contribute to the fire’s spread. Humidity levels were slightly higher overnight as monsoonal moisture began to move in,” the agency added. The Oak Fire has forced thousands of local residents to evacuate.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Mariposa County on Saturday due to the effects of the explosive fire. Another explosive wildfire, the Washburn Fire, has burned more than 4,875 acre (19.7 square km) to date with 87 per cent contained after nearly three weeks near the Yosemite National Park. The Washburn Fire has drawn national attention as firefighters are battling the blaze to protect some of the world’s oldest and largest trees in the park. Many of the largest wildfires, including the top five, in California’s history have happened in the past few years amid severe drought. “California continues to experience longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change,” said Cal Fire in its 2022 fire season outlook, noting that “continued dry conditions, with above normal temperatures through spring, will leave fuel moisture levels lower than normal, increasing the potential for wildland fire activity.” Wildfires have swallowed more than 53,000 acre (214.5 square km) so far this year in the state, according to data released by Cal Fire.

Court in China jails poet who called on Xi Jinping to step down

Shandong, July 28 (IANS): A court in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong has handed down a six-year jail term to an outspoken poet who called on ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping to step down, two years after his trial, a media outlet reported. Zhang Guiqi, 49, who is widely known by his penname Lu Yang, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by the Liaocheng Intermediate People’s Court, which found him guilty two years ago of “incitement to subvert state power”, RFA reported. “They informed his family by phone that he has been sentenced,” Independent Chinese PEN’s freelance coordinator Zhang Yu told RFA. “He was convicted of incitement to subvert state power, sentenced to six years in prison and deprived of political rights for three years.” Lu pleaded not guilty, and plans to appeal, Zhang said. “(His family) wanted to see the judgment, but they wouldn’t show it to them because they said it was a crime involving national security, and was a state secret,” Zhang said. Lu’s arrest came after he posted a video of himself calling on Xi to step down, and calling for “an end to the CCP dictatorship”. “At least three years of that sentence is linked to his mention of Xi Jinping, because if he’d called on anyone else to step down, it wouldn’t have been aggravated, which would have meant a three-year sentence,” Zhang said. “That’s one year each for each character (in Xi Jinping’s name).” Zhang said the video had been seen by a fairly small number of people to start with. Lu Yang was among a group of rights activists who went to the Shandong Jianzhu University in January 2017 to support a former professor there, Deng Xiangchao, who was targeted by Maoist protesters after he retweeted a post satirizing late supreme leader Mao Zedong. Independent Chinese PEN issued a statement condemning the sentencing of Lu on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Lu’s wife, who gave only a surname, Zhang, said she has been barred from giving interviews to foreign media, and has been threatened with the loss of her job by her current employer.

Monkeypox cases in US rise to 3,487

and Prevention’s (CDC) latest update on Tuesday. The update reveals that New York accounts for the largest number of cases at 990, followed by California (356) and Illinois (344). The other states where the caseload is in three digits are Florida (273), Georgia (268) and Texas (220), as well as the District Of Columbia (139). Health experts have opined that given the testing bottlenecks in the US, monkeypox cases are likely to be undercounted. On July 23, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. As of Tuesday, the global caseload stands at 18,095.

Ukraine’s campaign to retake Kherson gathering pace: Sources

Kiev, July 28 (IANS): Ukraine’s campaign to retake Kherson, the southern city which was the first to fall to Russia in March, is “gathering pace”, according to Western military sources. The sources described Kherson as “politically the nearest Russia has to a jewel in the crown of its occupation”, and its loss, they say, “would severely undermine Russia’s attempts to paint the occupation as a success”, the BBC reported. The key Antonivskiy Bridge into Kherson was forced to shut on Wednesday after being damaged by a Himars artillery rocket system fired by Ukrainian forces. The attack left the crossing “completely unusable”, the sources said. Moscow depended on the crossings to resupply their troops stationed west of the river, and are now at risk of becoming isolated from the rest of Russia’s occupying forces, they added. Meanwhile, Russian officials posted in Kherson also confirmed that a Ukrainian artillery strike had seriously damaged the Antonivskiy Bridge, forcing its closure to traffic. For days the Ukrainian military has targeted bridges using highly effective rocket systems supplied by the US, reports the BBC. According to the Western military sources, Wednesday’s attack was part of a Ukrainian counter effort to isolate Russian troops, with the ultimate goal of recapturing the entire Kherson region. In his nightly Wednesday address, President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that Ukraine would eventually rebuild the Antonivskiy Bridge as well as other crossings in the Kherson region. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that the occupiers’ logistical operations on our land are thwarted. Whatever their plans are, we will prevent their realisation,” Ukrayinska Pravda quoted Zelensky as saying. The President stressed that Ukraine will liberate its territory “with military, diplomatic and every other tool at its disposal”.

Zelensky appoints new commander of special operations forces

Kiev, July 26 (IANS): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree to appoint a new commander of the Special Operations Forces (SOF), a branch of the Armed Forces. According to the decree, published on the presidential website, Viktor Khorenko was appointed the commander of the SOF, reports Xinhua news agency. Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko wrote on Facebook that Khorenko previously served as a commander of the special reserve of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defence Ministry. Khorenko will replace Hryhorii Halahan, who was dismissed by Zelensky earlier on Monday. Last week, Zelensky dismissed Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova and head of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Bakanov, blaming them for insufficiently dealing with a large number of traitors in their agencies.

‘Next UK Prime Minister will inherit a mess’

London, July 23 (IANS): The next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will inherit a mess that some members of the governing Conservative Party believe will be impossible to manage, media reports said. With just six weeks until Boris Johnson’s walks through the famous black door of 10 Downing Street, the two remaining candidates are making a bad situation worse by rubbing acid into the wounds of a party so badly divided it could be forced to call an early election and hope for the best, CNN reported. Johnson’s replacement will not be elected by the 47 million adults registered to vote, but by a much smaller group of around 160,000 grassroots Conservative Party members. The winner will be announced on September 5. This means running on campaign issues that the candidates believe are most likely to appeal to this very small and hardly diverse group of people. “The average age of a party member is late 50s. Just under half are of a pensionable age and they are predominately White,” says Tim Bale, who is professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London and has studied the Conservative Party extensively. “They mostly live in southern England and are (financially) comfortable. They support a strong line on law and order, they approve of low taxes but believe that public services are important and should be funded properly, especially schools, police and, of course, the health service,” Bale adds. Unsurprisingly, given the costof-living crisis, the main issue of debate has been how to handle the economy. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is one of the two, is calling for a different approach from Johnson’s tax rises, and claims that cutting taxes immediately would create growth. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak argues that he believes this is fantasy economics, given the UK is still recovering from the economic shock of the Covid-19 pandemic. Seconds after it was decided the final two were Truss and Sunak, an even less optimistic Conservative MP told CNN: “We’ve just lost the next election.” The job of reinventing and uniting the party, which has been struggling in the polls for months and publicly flagellating itself for almost as long, would be tough for anyone. It will be even harder for either of the leadership contenders, both of whom have their hands dirty from previous government jobs and whose supporters have been flinging mud at one another over a long, hot summer, CNN reported. And if the warring factions cannot overcome these differences, they may find that they’ve wrecked their own chances of staying in power and hand the keys over to an opposition party that’s been locked out of Downing Street since 2010, CNN reported.

Over 14,000 kids drown in B’desh every year: WHO, Unicef

Dhaka, July 26 (IANS) Drowning has become the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five in Bangladesh and the country reports over 14,000 such fatalities every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Unicef said in a joint statement. In the statement, the two UN agencies called on the government, development partners, communities and individuals to do their part to raise awareness and work to prevent the untimely deaths of thousands of children across Bangladesh, reports Xinhua news agency. “It is heart-breaking that so many lives are lost each year in this country. We know that these deaths are preventable,” said Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh. “We urge individuals, communities and the government to join us in raising awareness and doing all we can to ensure every child’s right to survive and thrive.” Globally, drowning claims the lives of over 230,000 people every year. Nine in 10 drowning cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, with children under the age of five being at the highest risk. In Bangladesh, where large areas of land remain submerged due to yearly floods, the absence of awareness and swimming skills can prove to be life-threatening. Children in rural areas who grow up near bodies of water are also exposed to the risk of drowning daily. “Drowning is a significant public health concern and the third leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children in Bangladesh,” said WHO Representative to Bangladesh Bardan Jung Rana. “By enhancing multisectoral collaboration, promoting strong leadership on drowning prevention, and implementing necessary actions, we can prevent the tragedy of drowning and achieve a safer, healthier future for all.” Evidence shows that drowning is preventable through low-cost solutions. Increased awareness among families and communities, providing safety and swimming skills for children and adolescents, ensuring childcare facilities for pre-school children, and national policies and investments for prevention can make a significant difference.

Tasty and health snacks for monsoon cravings

Recognising the best talent in the food industry

Quick snacks for the perfect chai or filter coffee

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Chef Ranveer Brar recognized as Culinary Icons of the Year at India Food & Beverage Awards 2022

July 20, 2022: The arrival of the Monsoon season brings with it the desire for something delicious, hot, and refreshing. We enjoy bingeing on our favourite hot treats to satisfy our hunger. Certain foods are nutrient dense and provide us with Pepper Curd Oats & Filter Coffee long-lasting energy, so they must be included in our monsoon snacking. Oatmeal has become a popular evening snacking item in recent years, and the best part is that it is easy to prepare. Saffola Masala Oats is a blend of Indian spices and essential nutrients, making it not only chatpata but also a power-packed snack. It’s made with whole grain oats and real vegetables, so it keeps you ‘full’ for longer. It is available in five delectable flavours: Classic Masala, Peppy Tomato, Veggie Twist, Masala Coriander, and Curry & Pepper. Here are some Monsoon Snack Combos prepared with Oats that will satiate your monsoon cravings:

Oats Risotto & Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

It is a simple dish made by combining the Curry & Pepper Oats with yoghurt. The magic of well-loved spices of the South in three delicious south flavours that would leave everyone craving for more! Be it Air Fried Oats Cutlet & Masala Chai aromatic Sambar or fiery Chettinad or hot Curry Pepper, these flavours make for delightful warm family snack, serve it with the classic filter coffee.

Give a fun and nutritious twist to our monsoon snack by incorporating mouth-watering Veggie Twist Oats in it. In a pan add Veggie Twist Oats, cook it for 3 mins. Then take a bowl - add oats, boiled mashed potatoes, carrot, beet root, cabbage and salt to taste and mix it well. Create equal portions of the mixture, preheat the air fryer at 200 degrees C for 5 Mins, then place the cutlet portions in the air fryer and cook them for 15 mins at 200 Degrees C. Once ready, serve it with hot Masala Chai. Prepare a tangy red Risotto with aromatic spices and the tingling tomato aste of Peppy Tomato variant. In a pan add oil, garlic and ginger paste, add tomatoes, onions, capsicum Masala Toast Sandwich & HaldiDoodh sauté the mixture for a few mins and add peppy tomato oats. Once ready, serve it with cinnamon hot chocolate.

Monsoon days are incomplete without the toasty goodness and chatpata flavours of a Masala Toast Sandwich. Relish the same taste at home with just 5 mins of prep time. Cook Classic Masala or Masala & Coriander for 3 mins, when ready take a multi-grain bread and spread coriander chutney, add Masala Oats filling in the toast, put it in the toaster till brown and serve it with Haldi Doodh and enjoy. New Delhi, July 19: The recently held India Food & Beverage Awards 2022 (IFBA), hosted by Godrej Vikhroli Cucina, a platform by Godrej Industries dedicated to food and culinary space, and the Food Bloggers Association of India (FBAI), at Nine Dine, Jio World Drive, Mumbai. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Chef Ranveer Brar were awarded the people’s choice - Culinary Icons of the Year at the awards. Both experts were felicitated for their outstanding contribution to the food and culinary space. Chef Sanjyot Keer, content creator and founder of Your Food Lab, was honored as the Social Media Star of the Year. Curly Tales’ Founder Kamiya Jani won two awards - Instagram Star of the Year and Travel YouTuber of the Year. Apart from these 58 winners were announced at IFBA 2022. This list includes chefs, restaurants, content creators, bloggers, media houses, communities, and TV personalities across India, who did commendable work in the year in the food space. They were recognized under 7 main award categories - Facebook, Instagram, Blog, YouTube, Media, Hospitality, and Celebrated Chefs. Furthermore, these awards were divided into 29 sub-categories. Commenting on the initiative, Sujit Patil, Vice President and Head - Of corporate Brand and Communications, Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies, said, ‘Vikhroli Cucina is a first-ofits-kind brand agnostic platform by Godrej where brands operating in the food space, chefs, food bloggers, influencers and all food lovers engage and exchange ideas. We are very happy to associate with the Food Bloggers Association of India (FBAI) for the India Food & Beverage Awards 2022. The platform recognizes the best work done in the food space. We believe that this recognition of the best talent in the industry can lead to even better work and raise the stature of this great industry. We wish the winners a great journey ahead in the food and beverage ecosystem.’ Speaking about the awards, Sameer Malkani, Co-Founder, of the FBAI, said, ‘Unearthing new talent and encouraging entrepreneurship has always been one of the key objectives of #IFBA. The increase in the number of entries from across India showcases the need and interest levels for such recognitions. I would like to thank the participants, stakeholders, and our Jury, who have been very supportive of our Initiative and deserve a special mention along with our co-host Godrej Industries and its brands which always add value to #IFBA.’

Indian Cooking with Lata Modi

MRS. LATA MODI

Hello friends In today’s recipes I am trying out a new kind of vegetarian Subzi . We always make Aaloo methi Or sometimes Aaloo bhindi But I cooked this Subzi which I think is pretty tasty unique and healthy . I invented this Subzi which turned out to be delicious . And the second dish is a starter or an afternoon tea snack . Let’s get started and hopefully you will all like these two recipes . Happy cooking friends .

SABUDANA VADA

AALOO METHI AND WHOLE BHINDI

INGREDIENTS (For 4-6 people )

• One cup sabudana

• 1/4 cup self raising flour

• 4-5 boiled potatoes

• Fresh green chillies to taste

• Fresh chopped coriander

• Salt to taste

• One tea spoon cumin powder

• One tea spoon coriander powder

• INGREDIENTS

(for 4-6 people)

• Two or three medium sized potatoes ( peeled and sliced lengthwise)

• One bunch fresh methi leaves washed and chopped . Or one packet frozen methi leaves.

• Thawed and squeezed , ready to be cooked .

• 250 grams of small whole okra washed , both ends taken away and pat dried .

• One onion sliced lengthwise

• Two fresh green chillies chopped • Two table spoon oil • One tea spoon mustard seeds

• One tea spoon fennel seeds crushed

• Two tea spoon coriander powder. Salt to taste .

• One tea spoon amchur powder ( dry mango powder )

• Oil for deep frying

METHOD

We need to grind dry sabudana into smooth powder. Boil and grate potatoes In a mixing bowl put sabudana powder , grated potatoes and rest of the ingredients. Mix them together like a dough Roll into round shape or flat oval shape . Heat oil in a frying pan or wok Deep fry the vadas in batches of four five at a time on medium heat until they are golden crispy on both sides . Serve hot with green chutney.

METHOD

In a big wok or frying pan heat oil. Put mustard seeds , let it crackle . Now add onion and Fry onions until golden crown Add chopped chillies Now add potato Sauté for couple of minutes Add methi leaves Add whole okra Add all the spices and salt Stir well Cover and cook on medium heat until tender and cooked through

2 Indians in UN peacekeeping operation killed in DR Congo

United Nations, July 26 (IANS):

Two Indian police personnel in the UN peacekeeping operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were killed on Tuesday during attacks on peacekeepers by local people. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted that the two were from the Border Security Force and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that at the Butembo base “violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and fired upon our uniformed personnel”, killing three persons with the UN mission. He said that a peacekeeper had also been killed in the rioting at Butembo in the DRC, but did not disclose that victim’s nationality. Guterres sent his condolences to the Indian government on the death of the two Indian police personnel, he said. Haq said that Mobs threw stones and petrol bombs at UN facilities and broke into bases, looting, vandalising and setting them on fire in Eastern DRC. At the Security Council on Tuesday afternoon, India will be raising the attacks on UN personnel in the DRC, diplomatic sources said. There are 139 police and 1,888 military personnel from India in the DRC mission known by the French initials MONUSCO for UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC. MONUSCO started operations in the DRC in 2010 from an earlier operation set up in 1999 to stabilise the country wracked by rebel attacks. Haq said that the situation in the DRC aceis very volatile and reinforcements are being mobilised”. “Our quick reaction forces are on high alert and have been advised to exercise maximum restraint, using tear gas to disperse protestors and only firing warning shots when UN personnel or property are under attack,” he said. Tuesday was the second day of protests against the UN in Eastern DRC. Haq blamed “hostile remarks and threats made by individuals and groups against the UN, particularly on social media” for the attacks by hundreds of assailants on UN bases in Goma as well as other parts of North Kivu province. MONUSCO staff residences were targeted in four incidents and staff have been relocated to camps, he added. The protests were reportedly called by a section of the youth wing of the ruling, the UDPS. They were complaining about the UN’s inability to stop the attacks by rebel groups on civilians and the government. There are several rebel groups operating in the DRC, chief among them is the M23 organisation, which has targeted UN peacekeepers. There were reports of several casualties, including civilians, in the protests against the UN in the DRC that entered its second day on Tuesday. DRC Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya tweeted on Tuesday that at least five people were killed in Goma during the protests. “Warning shots (were fired) to disperse the demonstrators and prevent any attack on the @MONUSCO base and installations”, he said. Several news reports from the DRC said that UN personnel had opened fire on the demonstrators. In April, a Nepali peacekeeper was killed in the DRC in an attack by the militia of the Cooperative pour le developpement du Congo (CODECO). Six Pakistani peacekeepers were killed when a helicopter was shot down in an area where the M23 was active.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at aru.l@ians.in and followed at @ arulouis)

Instacart’s Indian-American Founder Apoorva Mehta calls it quit

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS): USbased Instacart’s Founder and Executive Chairman Apoorva Mehta has announced to step down from the online grocery delivery service he founded nearly a decade ago. Instacart announced that CEO Fidji Simo has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors, effective as Mehta moves out from the board once Instacart becomes a public company. “Since I transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman a year ago, I realised that I want to pursue a new mission and I want to do it with the same singular focus that I had while building Instacart. Stepping off the board will allow me to do just that,” Mehta said in a tweet late on Friday. Simo, a former Facebook executive, took over as CEO of Instacart when Mehta departed that role, and will be the future executive chairman of the board. “Mehta realised more than a decade ago that grocery delivery was a core consumer need. He worked tirelessly with the team to create and build a successful model that allows consumers to access same-day delivery from their favorite grocers,” said Simo. Simo thanked him “for all he has done for Instacart over the last decade”. Instacart, partners with more than 800 national, regional, and local retail brands to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 70,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America on its Marketplace. “Mehta created a company that is transforming the grocery industry. His hard work and dedication brought Instacart into the homes of millions of customers,” said Instacart Board Member Jeff Jordan.

I will run the economy like Margaret Thatcher: Rishi Sunak

London, July 13 (IANS): Rishi Sunak, the Indian origin contender for the prime ministership of the UK, said he will run the British economy like former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, if he wins. In his first campaign interview to The Daily Telegraph, the pro ruling Conservative party daily broadsheet, he remarked: “We will cut taxes and we will do it responsibly.” He added: “That’s my economic approach. I would describe it as common sense Thatcherism. I believe that’s what she would have done.” He continued: “If you read her speeches -- and I’ve quoted her and Nigel Lawson (an erstwhile Conservative chancellor of the exchequer) in other lectures I’ve given -- her approach to these things was to make sure that as a nation you have to earn what you spend.” Sunak was speaking in the context of a serious cost of living crisis gripping Britain, with a recession feared by economists. This has catapulted the UK’s economy as the main issue in the ballots to determine who will be the next leader of the ruling Conservative party and therefore the prime minister. Thatcher was a shrill right-wing, pro-market leader, who served as Britain’s prime minister between 1979 and 1990. She is a revered figure in Conservatives circles; but generally reviled in the now opposition Labour and Liberal Democrat parties. As chancellor of the exchequer in the government, Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- until he resigned a little over a week ago to signal the beginning of Johnson’s end -- he raised taxes after borrowing heavily to protect lives, livelihoods and businesses in the face of the Covid-19 challenge. Unlike his rivals in the leadership contest that is underway, he has refused to cut taxes until national debt is brought down. In the newspaper interview, published on Wednesday morning, he likened his upbringing to Thatcher’s. He cited that akin to her upbringing above her father’s grocery shop, in his childhood he helped out at his mother’s pharmacy. “My mum was a small businesswoman, she was a chemist,” Sunak stated, “I worked in my mum’s small chemist shop in Southampton. I did my mum’s books -- that was part of my job. I also did payroll and accounts every week and every month.” On Tuesday, four potential runners either dropped out after entering the race or desisted from doing so, because of a failure to muster support from fellow MPs, who will vote to whittle down the contestants to two, before the entire Conservative party membership indicate their preference. The quartet, who pulled out, were home secretary Priti Patel, transport secretary Grant Shapps, former health secretary Sajid Javid and junior minister in the Foreign Office Rehman Chishti. The first ballot in the contest will take place on Wednesday afternoon and the result will be revealed by 1600 hours GMT or 2130 Indian Standard Time. The eight candidates in the field will be required to attract at least 30 votes from MPs to go forward to the next round on Thursday. Sunak’s opponents are Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch, Liz Truss (who appears to have adopted a ‘stop Rishi’ mode), Jeremy Hunt, Tom Tugendhat, Suella Fernandes Braverman, who is also of Indian descent, and Nadhim Zahawi. In informed groups, Sunak and Mordaunt are assessed to be neck and neck in terms of support from MPs, with the latter, according to Conservative Home, a Conservative news and analysis site, enjoying an edge among the wider party activists. The Conservative party is largely white, Anglo-Saxon and Protestant. New York, July 25 (IANS): Two Indian-origin men have been shot dead in Canada, 10 days after an eerily similar killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, who had been acquitted of charges of bombing an Air India plane, according to media reports. Meninder Dhaliwal and Satindera Gill were killed on Sunday at the British Columbia resort village of Whistler. The two latest victims were shot in broad daylight while sitting in a car in a public place like Ripudaman Malik and as in that incident, a car was also found burning nearby, according to media reports. The two incidents, however, have not been linked by officials. Two persons who have not been publicly identified have been arrested in connection with the latest killings, CTV reported quoting officials. But there have been no arrests as yet in the killing of Malik. Dhaliwal, along with his brother Barinder, was on a list of six men, four of them of Indian descent, released last year by the Vancouver Police Department which called them “gangsters” who “pose a significant risk to the safety of the public”. Police Chief Adam Palmer warned while releasing their pictures, “Our police intelligence leads us to believe that the individuals we have identified today may be targeted by rival gang members”. Dhaliwal was a member of a gang known as “Brothers Keeper” (BK), while Gill was not known to be involved with gangs, the Vancouver Sun reported. Dhaliwal’s brother was killed last year in April, the newspaper’s website said. CTV said that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) confirmed Dhaliwal and Gill had been targeted and the shooting was linked to an ongoing gang conflict in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region that includes Vancouver. The Sun said that the BK has been involved in violent conflicts over the years with the gang known as “United Nations” and with some members of “Red Scorpions”. It said that last year Dhaliwal’s brother Harb was killed outside a Vancouver restaurant when he was with him and Barinder. Meninder chased the gunman, Francoise Gauthier, and stabbed him in the eye, but did not face charges, it added. Gauthier admitted last month in a Canadian court to carrying out the murder and was sentenced to life in prison, the Sun reported. It said that both Meninder and Barinder had been shot several times in the past. Ripudaman Singh was acquitted on charges linked to the bombing of Air India’s Kanishka that killed all on board the Boeing 747 on a flight from Canada to India in 1985. Once a supporter of the Sikh separatist Khalistan movement, he later made peace with the Indian government, writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year: “I am writing you this to express my deep heartfelt gratitude for the unprecedented positive steps taken by yourself to redress long-reading Sikh demands and grievances.” He was taken off the Indian government’s blacklist and granted a visa to visit India in 2019.

Three-day northeast festival in Bangkok from July 29

Guwahati, July 24 (IANS): A threeday festival would commence in Bangkok on July 29 to showcase northeast India and explore the shared history, officials said on Sunday. In the second edition of the ‘Northeast India Festival’, a series of discussions, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, cultural progammes and fashion events would be held at the Central World in Bangkok, which will also be a part of the events to celebrate 75 years of India-Thailand diplomatic ties. The first edition of the festival was organised in February 2019 when it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With support from the Indian Embassy in Bangkok and various state governments in the northeast, the festival is being organised by the Guwahati based socio-cultural trust, Trend MMS. An official statement said that the chief ministers and tourism ministers of several northeastern states, Union Minister for State for External Affairs R.K. Ranjan, senior officials of Central and state governments in the northeast and top industrialists, among others, would attend the festival. Ambassadors of various ASEAN and QUAD countries, experts, and the local Thai community are also expected to attend the festival. An extensive campaign is presently highlighting the festival at various Metro stations of Bangkok. Over 30 MSME entrepreneurs will showcase their products from the northeastern region at the festival with special focus on tea, handicraft, agri-horti products and tourism. Festival spokesman Shyamkanu Mahanta said that more than 400 delegates are travelling to Bangkok to participate in the festival. Mahanta also informed that the northeast diaspora in Thailand under NEIA is supporting the event.

2 hitmen charged with killing Ripudaman Singh Malik

Vancouver, July 28 (IANS): Two hitmen have been charged with the killing of one-time Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik who was gunned down in Surrey near here on July 14. The alleged killers Tanner Fox, 21, and Jose Lopez, 23, were arrested by The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team on the basis of tips from the public. Police have not yet confirmed whether the two men were hired to kill Malik. Superintendent Mandeep Mooker, who heads the investigation team, told the media: “We’re in the infancy of this investigation as it’s only 13 days old. So there’s many follow-up tasks.” About the hitmen’s motive, he said: “I think that’s going to be part of our ongoing tasks here. It’s very difficult 13 days in as these investigation sometimes takes years to develop - and that’s why in these initial stages, the swift reaction of all of our teams coming together was amazing work to identify these individuals, and charge them.” Police said both the suspects have a criminal past. They were on bail in other criminal cases at the time of their arrest. While one suspect was charged with nine gun-related criminal counts last year, the other faced gun charges. Malik was gunned down when he reached his business office in Surrey in the morning. The hitmen burnt the stolen vehicle, a white Honda CRV, used in the crime just a few blocks away. Public tips about the vehicle being seen near a business complex about 80 minutes before the killing, helped police nab the alleged hitmen. Malik, along with Ajaib Singh Bagri, was an accused in the bombing of Air Indian Kanishka flight 182 in June 1985 off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board. The bombing was carried out by Sikh radicals to take revenge for the army action at the Golden Temple in June 1984 to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters. The two were acquitted in 2005. Malik visited India after the Indian government in 2019 deleted black lists of pro-Khalistan radicals living abroad. In January this year, Malik wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanking him for his pro-Sikh actions. It is speculated that Malik’s letter to Modi angered Sikh radicals and that’s why he was targeted. Malik was also targeted by hardliners when he printed the Sikh holy scripture at his printing press in Surrey.