Jammu : A man, who had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control and entered India, was sent back to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on humanitarian grounds on Tuesday, officials said.Mohmmad Hussain, a resident of Kotli (PoK), entered Indian territory on April 28 via Tarkundi area of Poonch, they said.Indian Army officials along with civilian officials handed over Hussain to authorities in PoK at the Poonch-Rawalakote crossing point in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Tuesday, they said.Hussain, who was sent back along with gifts, thanked the Indian Army for the gesture—PTI

A man, who had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control and entered India, was sent back to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on humanitarian grounds on Tuesday, officials said.

Civilian who inadvertently crossed LoC sent back to PoK

Srinagar:&nbsp;Two civilians were injured during an encounter between security forces and militants in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said."During initial cordon &amp; search operation, #terrorists fired upon civilians and tried to escape, in which two #civilians got #injured. Both the injured shifted to hospital. One of them is critical. Cordon strengthened, details shall follow," Kasgmir Zone Police tweeted.The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Pandoshan area in Shopian following information about the presence of militants there.The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened firing on the security forces, who retaliated.—PTI

 Two civilians were injured during an encounter between security forces and militants in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said.

2 civilians injured in encounter in J-K's Shopian

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held three back-to-back meetings with top officials of the security establishment to assess the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including the recent killings of civilians, as well as reviewed arrangements for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra for which the UT administration will provide RFID tags to every pilgrim. While Lt Governor of J&amp;K Manoj Sinha was present in all the three meetings, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande attended the meetings to discuss the security situation in the UT. Senior officials from the Centre, paramilitary forces and the UT administration were also in these meetings., Later in a statement, the Union home ministry said the J&amp;K chief secretary informed the meeting that each pilgrim will be provided with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card and will be insured for Rs 5 lakh.Shah said a "hassle-free" journey for the pilgrims is a priority of the Modi government and directed that all arrangements, including additional electricity, water, and telecom facilities be made. The home minister also stressed for the enhancement of mobile connectivity along the yatra route as he directed that earth-moving equipment should be placed at vantage points to clear the route in case of landslides. This is the first yatra after the Covid-19 pandemic, and due to the high altitude, adequate arrangements will have to be made for yatris who have any health-related problems, he said. The home minister asked for an adequate number of oxygen cylinders, medical beds at an altitude of more than 6,000 feet and deployment of ambulances and helicopters to deal with any emergency medical situation.All categories of transport services should be increased during the Amarnath Yatra for the convenience of passengers.During the meeting, it was also decided to enable WiFi hotspots to ensure connectivity throughout the 39 km of the Yatra route from Pahalgam in South Kashmir. The other route is through Baltal in central Kashmir where pilgrims treks for nearly 15 km. The yatra, which presents a big security challenge for the government, could not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and was cut short in 2019 just before the abrogation of Article 370. About three lakh pilgrims are likely to take part in the pilgrimage, scheduled to begin on June 30 and expected to end on August 11. About 12,000 paramilitary personnel (120 companies) in addition to the Jammu and Kashmir police are expected to be deployed along the two pilgrimage routes, one from Pahalgam and the other via Baltal, officials said. Drone cameras will help the security forces to ensure the protection of the pilgrims. Besides the Amarnath pilgrimage, the meetings also reviewed the security arrangement especially in the wake of several targeted killings, including of Kashmiri Pandits, in Kashmir. There has been a spurt in attacks on non-Muslims and outsiders living in the Kashmir valley since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019. The security review comes following a spate of killings in the Union territory.On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a government employee, was killed by terrorists inside his office in Budgam district. A day after, police constable Reyaz Ahmad Thokar was shot dead by terrorists at his residence in the Pulwama district. Also last week, four pilgrims were killed and at least 20 injured when the bus they were travelling in caught fire near Katra in Jammu. Police suspect a sticky bomb might have been used to trigger the fire. Bhat's killing triggered protests by members of the Kashmiri Pandit community who staged protests in the Valley demanding enhanced security and transfer of government employees to safer locations.On Sunday, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomerate of major J-K parties, urged Kashmiri Pandit employees not to leave the Valley as it was their home and it would be painful for all. Top officials of the ministries of health, telecom, road transport, civil aviation and IT took part in the meeting to discuss logistics for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva at an altitude of 3,888 metres.—PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held three back-to-back meetings with top officials of the security establishment to assess the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, including the recent killings of civilians, as well as reviewed arrangements for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra for which the UT administration will provide RFID tags to every pilgrim. 

Amit Shah holds 3 meetings on J-K, including on Amarnath Yatra security

Srinagar: Three civilians were injured in a grenade attack by militants on a security force ‘naka’ (checkpost) in J&amp;K’s Kulgam district on Tuesday, police said. “Militants hurled a grenade and also fired upon a naka party of the CRPF and the local police in Yaripora village of Kulgam. However, the grenade missed the target and exploded some distance away,” a police source said.“Three civilians received injuries in this explosion. They have been shifted to hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable,” the source added.The area has been cordoned off for searches.—IANS

Three civilians were injured in a grenade attack by militants on a security force ‘naka’ (checkpost) in J&K’s Kulgam district on Tuesday, police said.

Three Civilians Injured In J&K Grenade Attack

United Nations: Robert Mardini, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has highlighted three areas of particular concern with regard to the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In a briefing to a UN Security Council open debate on the subject, Mardini said the first issue of concern is the appalling human cost of wars in cities, reports Xinhua news agency.“I hardly need to remind you of the massive harm urban warfare causes, primarily to civilians, all the more so when explosive weapons with wide-area effects are used,” he said.This clearly raises serious questions about how parties to such conflicts interpret and apply relevant rules of international humanitarian law. In fact, the concept of “military necessity” is abused more often than not, used as an excuse for the use of force rather than as a reason to limit it. The risks often increase when weapons are supplied to belligerents by allies or partners without proper oversight, he said. The second issue of particular concern is the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech during armed conflict, said Mardini.“We are seeing first-hand in our operations how this phenomenon reduces the ability of affected people to make well-informed decisions that impact their safety and dignity. It dangerously distorts information vital to human needs, such as access to safety, shelter and health care. We are also seeing the surge in misinformation, online and offline, which is jeopardizing humanitarian efforts to earn the trust and acceptance of affected people. False narratives around the role of humanitarian organisations not only hamper our work but can create dangers for the people we are trying to protect and assist and for our staff,” he said.The third concern relates to the increasing pressure on front-line humanitarian organisations to help states obtain information for eventual criminal proceedings in armed conflict, he said.Better respect for international humanitarian law requires accountability, which, in turn, helps prevent violations of international humanitarian law. But there is a need to separate the work of humanitarian organisations from that of investigative bodies. This is critical to preserve neutrality and impartiality and to access populations in need, he said. The ICRC urges states to take decisive action in the three particular areas of concern: to make the protection of civilians a strategic priority in the planning and conduct of all military and security operations in populated areas; to avoid and prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation in armed conflicts and mitigate its impact on affected people; and to ensure accountability for victims without compromising the neutral and humanitarian space within which humanitarian organisations need to operate, he said. “Action in these three areas would go a long way toward ensuring better protection of civilians in armed conflicts everywhere.”—IANS

 Robert Mardini, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has highlighted three areas of particular concern with regard to the protection of civilians in armed conflict. 

Red Cross Highlights 3 Concerns Over Civilian Protection In Armed Conflict

Ouagadougou: At least 50 civilians in Burkina Faso’s Madjoari region were killed during an armed attack, according to an official statement. Residents from the Madjoari town who were trying to reach Nadiagou, in the town of Pama, were targeted by unidentified armed men, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement from the regional government as saying. On May 14, an attack on civilians in the same area left 17 dead and seven injured.On May 19, another attack against the military detachment of Madjoari left 11 soldiers killed and 20 others injured. Security in Burkina Faso has worsened since 2015 as terrorist attacks have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million others in the West African nation.—IANS

At least 50 civilians in Burkina Faso’s Madjoari region were killed during an armed attack, according to an official statement.

50 Civilians Killed In Burkina Faso Attack

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took stock of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/kashmiri-pandit-teacher-shot-dead-by-terrorists-in-jk/20220531.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">a series of targeted killings</a>&nbsp;in the Valley, officials said.National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha were among those who attended the meeting.The home minister reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a ministry official said.Security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra also figured in the meetings, the official said. The meeting came after terrorists carried out a series of targeted killings in the Kashmir Valley that include non-Muslims, security personnel, an artist and local civilians. Two persons --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/terrorists-kill-rajasthani-employee-inside-bank-premises-in-kulgam-j-k/20220602.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">a bank employee</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/terrorists-kill-migrant-worker-injure-another-in-kashmir/20220602.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">a brick kiln labourer</a>&nbsp;-- were killed in Kashmir on Thursday while another labourer was injured in two separate incidents.The bank manager was the ninth and the labourer was the 10th targeted killing in Kashmir since May 1.A woman teacher hailing from the Samba district of the Jammu region&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/emotions-run-high-at-cremation-of-hindu-teacher-shot-dead-in-j-k/20220601.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">was shot dead</a>&nbsp;by terrorists at a school in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Tuesday.On May 18, terrorists had entered a wine shop at Baramulla in North Kashmir and threw a grenade, killing one person from the Jammu region and injuring three others.Policeman Saifullah Qadri&nbsp;<a href="https://news.rediff.com/commentary/2022/may/24/terrorists-kill-cop-in-jk-7yrold-daughter-hurt/31877429cd8854b9372202847f1236df" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">was shot dead</a>&nbsp;outside his residence in Srinagar on May 24 while television artiste&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/lashkar-terrorists-gun-down-woman-tv-artist-at-her-j-k-home-hurt-nephew/20220526.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">Amreen Bhat was gunned down</a>&nbsp;in Budgam two days later.Scores of Kashmiri Pandits, who were employed under a prime minister's package in 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/kashmiri-hindu-employees-threaten-to-migrate-over-targeted-killings/20220601.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">have been staging protests</a>&nbsp;threatening mass exodus since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/news/report/kashmiri-pandit-employee-shot-dead-inside-j-k-government-office/20220512.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">the killing of Rahul Bhat</a>, who was shot dead by terrorists on May 12 in the Chadoora area of Budgam district in central Kashmir.The high-level meeting chaired by Shah was the second such exercise in less than a fortnight.Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar, Director General of Central Reserve Police Force Kuldiep Singh, Border Security Force chief Pankaj Singh, and Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh among other key officials took part in the meeting.Earlier, Shah had an informal meeting with LG Manoj Sinha, Arvind Kumar, Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing Samant Goel and DGP of Jammu and Kashmir Dilbagh Singh.—PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took stock of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of a series of targeted killings in the Valley, officials said.

Amit Shah reviews Kashmir situation amid spate of civilian killings

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took stock of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of a series of targeted killings in the Valley, officials said.



Kyiv: Civilians fled intense fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday as Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.Mostly women, children and elderly residents left on a special evacuation train that departed from the city of Pokrovsk and headed west.We live on the front line now, said Svitlana Kaplun, whose family fled as shelling reached their neighborhood in the city of Krasnohorivka. The kids are worried all the time, they are afraid to sleep at night, so we decided to take them out.After a bungled attempt to overrun Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, in the early days of the war, Russia shifted its focus to an eastern region of coal mines and factories known as the Donbas. The area borders Russia and has been partly controlled by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.The fighting there has led to mounting casualties and renewed pleas from Ukraine to the West for more weapons.Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine's president, told the BBC in an interview aired Thursday that the daily loss of 100 to 200 Ukrainian soldiers is the result of a complete lack of parity between Ukraine and Russia. He said only more advanced Western weaponry will turn back the Russian offensive and force Moscow to the negotiating table.Fighting in the Donbas has ground on for more than two months, and the slog continued Friday. A provincial governor said Russian and Ukrainian forces battled "for every house and every street in Sievierodonetsk, a city that recently has been under steady attack.Sievierodonetsk is in the last pocket of Luhansk province that has not yet been claimed by Russia or Moscow-backed separatists. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions together make up the Donbas.Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai told The Associated Press that Ukrainian forces retain control of the industrial zone on the edge of the city and some other sections amid the painstaking block-by-block fighting.An envoy for the Luhansk People's Republic, a self-proclaimed separatist territory, reported Friday that some Ukrainian troops were trapped inside a chemical plant on the city's outskirts. All escape routes have been cut off, Rodion Miroshnik, Moscow ambassador for the unrecognized republic, wrote on social media.They are being told that no conditions will be accepted. Only the laying down of arms and surrender, he said.Miroshnik echoed earlier claims by a Russian defense official that civilians remained on the plant's grounds. But he stopped short of reiterating allegations that Ukrainian forces were barring them from leaving.As of Friday afternoon, there was no response from the Ukrainian side. Meanwhile, Moscow kept up its artillery strikes on the neighboring city of Lysychansk and surrounding towns and villages, the Ukrainian military said. It also said that Russian troops were preparing to resume an offensive on the city of Slavyansk in the Donetsk region, south of Luhansk. —AP

Civilians fled intense fighting in eastern Ukraine on Friday as Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in a grinding battle of attrition for key cities in the country's industrial heartland.

Civilians Flee Intense Fighting In Contested Eastern Ukraine

Srinagar:&nbsp;An army man and a civilian were injured during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Redwani area of Kulgam district following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said. The official said the search operation turned into an encounter after the ultras opened firing on the security forces, who retaliated. "One Army Jawan and one civilian got injured in the #encounter. Search in the area is still going on. Further details shall follow," a police spokesman tweeted. It was not clear as to how the civilian was injured in the encounter.—PTI

An army man and a civilian were injured during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said

Soldier, civilian injured in Kulgam encounter

Srinagar: A civilian escaped unhurt after terrorists fired upon him, but missed, at a market in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, official said.
"Police in Shopian received an information about a terror crime incident at Heerpora area. Senior police officers reached the terror crime spot to ascertain the facts," a police official said.
Police said preliminary investigation revealed that terrorist had fired upon Waseem Ahmad Wani, a resident of Burihalan Heerpora, at Main Bazar Heerpora.
"However, the terrorists missed the intended target and he escaped unhurt. In this terror incident, the bullets hit a nearby parked vehicle bearing registration number JK22A-4422," police said.
Police have registered an FIR and investigation has been initiated.&nbsp;
—IANS

A civilian escaped unhurt after terrorists fired upon him, but missed, at a market in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, official said. "Police in Shopian received an information about a terror crime incident at Heerpora area. Senior police officers reached the terror crime spot to ascertain the facts," a police official said.

 Civilian escapes unhurt in terrorist attack in J&K's Shopian

Srinagar: According to the police, terrorists opened fire and injured a man in the Anantnag area of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday evening.
Aqib Ahmad Dar, a vendor of ready-made garments in the Marhama hamlet of the Bijbehara tehsil, was reportedly the target of gunfire by militants in the evening.
"The injured was shifted to the government medical college hospital in Anantnag town. The area has been surrounded for searches", a police officer said.—Inputs from Agencies

According to the police, terrorists opened fire and injured a man in the Anantnag area of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday evening

 Civilian shot and injured by militants in J&K's Anantnag

Islamabad: Thirteen people, including six soldiers and a civilian, were killed, and six hostages were injured in a clearance operation at a military compound in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, a military statement said.
The operation was completed on Saturday morning after the terrorists attacked the compound of paramilitary troops' frontier corps in northern Balochistan on Friday morning, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement on Saturday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.
"The complex clearance operation involved hostage rescue operation as well to save three families from a residential block. The terrorists had not even spared children of their horrendous approach," ISPR added.
All the six well-equipped terrorists involved in the attack were killed, said the statement.
—<span style="color: rgb(53,53,53);background-color: rgb(255,255,255);font-size: 14px;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji;">IANS&nbsp;

 Thirteen people, including six soldiers and a civilian, were killed, and six hostages were injured in a clearance operation

13 Killed, 6 Injured In Clearance Operation In Pakistan

Srinagar: On Friday, the police in the Anantnag region of Jammu and Kashmir arrested five members of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for killing of a civilian there.

As reported by DIG (South Kashmir) Rayees Mohammad Bhat, the five JeM terrorists involved for the May 29 killing of circus artist Deepu Kumar near Janglat Mandi in Anantnag town have been arrested.

Speaking to reporters, the DIG said, "Two persons belonging to Anantnag town were missing and our suspicion was focused on them. Based on technical evidence and human intelligence, we have finally been able to arrest the five terrorists involved in the murder of Deepu Kumar, who belonged to Udhampur district."—Inputs from Agencies

On Friday, the police in the Anantnag region of Jammu and Kashmir arrested five members of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for killing of a civilian there

 5 JeM terrorists held for killing civilian in J&K's Anantnag

Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli commander Doron Gavish explained the workings of the Iron Dome system as part of a multi-layered defence system that has helped Israel intercept thousands of rockets from multiple targets. Former Commander of the Aerial Defense Array Brigadier General (res.) Doron Gavish said that the system also helped Israel in minimising the civilian casualties amid attacks.
In a video posted by TPS - Israel's News Agency, Gavish said, "Iron Dome is part of a multi-layered defence system, developed here during the last 10-15 years. The role of this formation is to defend against threats that arrive at short ranges, whether it is from the direction of Hezbollah or whether it is from the direction of Gaza".  He said that the system was built for the benefit of rockets but it also performs two other crucial tasks. "It helps is assisting in alerting the residents of Israel, basically every rocket that comes towards Israel, the residents of Israel receive an alert. It also assists in the interception of unmanned aerial vehicles. So, this is basically an Iron Dome, on top of which there is a layer for a longer range of a system called David's Sling," Gavish added. The Israeli commander further said that the system has helped in thousands of interceptions and it exudes confidence in Israeli defence to defend the country. "Here the role of Home Front Commander comes in. He warns the residents to go inside the shelters. This is what we call the passive defence, the combination, on one hand, active defence, and on the other hand passive defence. This allows for a very very low percentage of casualties despite the very large number of rockets fired at Israel," he added.
—ANI

Israeli commander Doron Gavish explained the workings of the Iron Dome system as part of a multi-layered defence system

Israeli commander explains role of Iron Dome in intercepting rockets, minimising casualties

Washington, DC [US]: The White House on Tuesday announced that the first humanitarian aid flight facilitated by the US military is set to arrive in Egypt for civilians in Gaza amid the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas. It is worth mentioning that the temporary truce has been extended by two days on Monday. Since Friday, the pause in the deadly fighting in Gaza has allowed for some hostages held by Hamas to be released and for a surge of humanitarian aid to get into Gaza.
It is notably going to be the "first of three flights" that are facilitated by the US military to bring medical supplies, food, and winter necessities to prepare for the impending winter in Gaza, The Hill reported. The UN will subsequently distribute these supplies to the civilian population. According to The Hill, a senior administration official told reporters that this is the first of three relief flights that would be "facilitated by the unique capabilities of the US military that will be arriving into North Sinai in Egypt. The next two flights with humanitarian aid "will be coming in the coming days," the official said further. Since the start of the crisis, the United States has sponsored five commercial aircraft that have delivered products into Egypt; however, they are the first flights that are made possible by the military.  The military aircraft are en route to Egypt in the midst of Israel and Hamas's two-day extension of their brief ceasefire in Gaza. The cease-fire in the deadly fighting in Gaza that began on Friday has made it possible for a large amount of humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza as well as the release of several captives held by Hamas. Military aircraft carrying supplies are an addition to the 200 or so trucks that travel into Gaza every day to bring food, water, and gasoline, according to The Hill. According to the White House, the decision to send military aircraft into the Middle East was made in response to the necessity to backfill supplies due to the increase in the flow of products into Gaza during the halt. "The movement over the last four or five days of assistance has been so significant in volume that a backfill into El-Arish is now needed. These planes are part of that backfill," The Hill quoted the official as saying.  El-Arish is a city in North Sinai, Egypt, where the United Nations will transfer humanitarian aid from the United States into civilian areas in Gaza. The Israel-Hamas truce will be extended by two days, and Qatar and the US confirmed the extension of the Israel-Hamas truce by two days and there is the likelihood of about 10 more Israeli hostages to be released per day. As per the initial four-day truce agreement, which will expire today (Tuesday), Israel agreed to halt its military operations in Gaza for four days and emphasized that it would release three Palestinian security prisoners for each of the 50 hostages freed from Gaza, The Times of Israel reported. Since Friday, over 50 hostages have now been released, whereas, 117 Palestinians have been freed. US President Joe Biden on Monday welcomed the additional two-day truce between Israel and Hamas after Qatar's successful mediation. Biden issued a statement, welcoming the extended truce, as reported by The Times of Israel. "I have remained deeply engaged over the last few days to ensure that this deal--brokered and sustained through extensive US mediation and diplomacy--can continue to deliver results," the US President said.
—ANI

The White House on Tuesday announced that the first humanitarian aid flight facilitated by the US military is set to arrive in Egypt

First of three US military planes to arrive in Egypt with humanitarian aid for Gaza

New Delhi: The French government on Wednesday conferred its top awards on Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Dr V R Lalithambika and acclaimed translator and author Dr Arshia Sattar.  For her engagement in space cooperation between France and India, Ambassador Thierry Mathou honoured Lalithambika, former Director, Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme, ISRO, with Legion d’Honneur -- the country's top civilian award.  “I am delighted to confer the Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur on Dr V.R. Lalithambika, a distinguished scientist and a trailblazer in space technology. Her expertise, accomplishments, and tireless efforts have scripted a new ambitious chapter in the long history of the Indo-French space partnership,” Ambassador Mathou said in a statement.  A specialist in advanced launch vehicle technology, Lalithambika has worked extensively on various ISRO rockets, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).  In 2018, as Director of the Human Spaceflight Programme, she coordinated closely with the French National Space Agency (Centre national d’etudes spatiales - CNES) for India’s Gaganyaan project.  Lalithambika was instrumental in the signing of the first joint agreement for cooperation between CNES and ISRO on human spaceflight, under which the two countries could exchange specialists to work on space medicine.  Receiving the award, Lalithambika said: “I sincerely hope that this honour being bestowed on me will spur more and more women to take up STEM careers and to excel in their chosen fields."  In 2021, Lalithambika coordinated with CNES for the signing of a second agreement between France and India on the Indian astronaut programme during the visit of the former French Foreign Affairs Minister to ISRO.  Under this agreement the French space agency would train India’s flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams in France at the CADMOS centre for the development of microgravity applications and space operations at CNES in Toulouse and at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.  "Dr Lalithambika is an inspiration to the next generation of scientists not only in Toulouse but also in India, where she promoted inclusivity by enabling the recruitment of civilians, including women, to participate in the future of the Indian astronaut programme," a French Embassy statement read.  Sattar was presented the insignia of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) at a special ceremony at the Consulate General of France in Bengaluru.  The distinction comes in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of literature as a translator and a writer as well as her deep commitment to the promotion of literature as director of the literary residency, Sangam House.  "This award honours her continued commitment to cultural relationship and cooperation between diverse literary worlds," the Embassy said in its statement.  "It is always an important moment when the arts are recognised. It is through the arts that we better understand each other and ourselves. The arts remind us of our shared humanity and in our troubled 21st century, this is perhaps the most significant touchstone - that we are more alike than we are different. I thank the French government for acknowledging that by this award," Sattar said after receiving the award.  In her career as a translator, Sattar has engaged with the great masterpieces of Indian literature: The Ramayana, The Mahabharata, and The Tales from Kathasaritsagara.  In addition to that, she has written several books for children, including The Mahabharata for Children, which was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Prize for Children’s Literature in 2022.  In 2008, she co-founded the literary residency, Sangam House, along with David William Gibson, with the vision of creating a supportive space for writers expressing themselves in regional languages, where they can interact with contemporaries from other cultures and share their perspectives.  Sangam House was the first literary residency of its kind, which has hosted over 200 writers from across India and the world.  It is now a member of the Villa Swagatam network of residencies -- an initiative launched by the French Institute in India in March 2023, which consists of 16 Indian residencies spanned across the country, hosting residents in the fields of arts and crafts, performing arts, and literature.  Some noted Indian recipients of the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in the past include actors Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Richa Chadha, photographer Raghu Rai, theatre director Ebrahim Alkazi, playwright Habib Tanveer, and author Upamanyu Chatterjee.
—IANS

The French government on Wednesday conferred its top awards on Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Dr V R Lalithambika

Top French honours for Indian translator, ISRO scientist

Tel Aviv: Amid the ongoing truce in Gaza, three civilians and two terrorists were killed in a shooting incident carried out by Hamas operatives at a bus station in Jerusalem on Thursday, authorities said.  According to Israel's emergency services the MDA, the victims included a 24 year-old woman and a man in his 70s.  The police said that two attackers opened fire at people waiting at the bus station in the outskirts of Jerusalem during the morning rush hour.  The two suspects were later neutralised by wo off-duty soldiers and a civilian, the police said.  Meanwhile, the two suspects have been identified as brothers Murad Namr (38) and Ibrahim Namr(30) from East Jerusalem.  Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gavir said the shooters were Hamas militants operatives.  "These are apparently Hamas operatives, who speak here with two voices, one voice of a so-called cease-fire and a second voice of terror," Gavir told reporters.  The development came just hours after Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the humanitarian truce in Gaza for a seventh day, just minutes before it was set to expire on Thursday.
—IANS

Amid the ongoing truce in Gaza, three civilians and two terrorists were killed in a shooting incident carried out by Hamas operatives at a bus station

3 civilians, 2 terrorists killed in Jerusalem shooting

Los Angeles: Veteran Hollywood actor Susan Sarandon has issued an apology after saying at a pro-Palestine rally that people feeling afraid of being Jewish at this time were 'getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence'.
The Academy Award-winning actor's comments, made in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict at a pro-Palestinian rally last month, drew widespread criticism.
In a statement posted to Instagram Friday night, Sarandon said she had been trying to communicate her concern for rising hate crimes.  “This phrasing was a terrible mistake as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true. As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe, to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA... Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day,' the actor said.  “I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment. It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so,' Sarandon added.  Following her remarks at the November 17 rally in New York City, Sarandon was dropped by United Talent Agency (UTA), where she'd been a client since 2014.  The Israel-Hamas conflict began after the October 7 attack by Hamas and other militants, who killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel and took around 240 people captive.  Israel pounded targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday after a weeklong truce with Hamas and giving rise to renewed concerns about civilian casualties.
—PTI

Veteran Hollywood actor Susan Sarandon has issued an apology after saying at a pro-Palestine rally that people feeling afraid of being Jewish

'Phrasing was a terrible mistake': Susan Sarandon apologises after pro-Palestinian rally remarks

Tel Aviv [Israel]: The Israeli soldiers shot and killed three hostages in Gaza who were unarmed and waving a white flag, violating Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) rules of engagement, CNN reported, citing an IDF official. The incident was termed a "tragic, tragic event," and details indicate that the hostages were shirtless and came out of a building near IDF soldiers.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/i1.webp" alt="IDF soldiers" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>

One IDF soldier felt that there were suicide bombers and so he opened fire, against the rules of engagement, resulting in the immediate deaths of two hostages and the third later. The situation is complicated by intense combat in the area, with terrorists moving in civilian attire to create traps. The hostages were identified as Yotam Haim, Samer Fouad Al-Talalka, and Alon Shimriz. An investigation is underway to examine the circumstances surrounding the killings, including a potential connection with a nearby building marked with SOS. The three men came out of a building "tens of metres from our soldiers' position," the official said. At least one of the soldiers "feels threatened and opens fire. Two are killed immediately. One is wounded and runs back inside. The soldiers hear a cry for help in Hebrew and the brigade commander issues a cease-fire order but there is another burst of fire," as reported by CNN. The third hostage died later. It remains uncertain if the second burst of fire killed the hostage or which of the three it was. More than one IDF soldier fired at the hostages, the official told CNN after briefing journalists. "This was against our rules of engagement. I'll repeat that: This was against our rules of engagement," the official said. The official also said there is "intense combat" in the area where the hostages were shot, and "terrorists there are moving around in civilian attire. They are wearing sneakers and jeans. They are trying to pull us into traps." "Hundreds of metres from that location, there was a building with markings of SOS on it, and we are still looking to see if there is a connection between that building and the hostages," the official said. An investigation is ongoing into the killing of the hostages, CNN cited the official as saying.
—ANI

The Israeli soldiers shot and killed three hostages in Gaza who were unarmed and waving a white flag, violating Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) rules

Israeli troops violated rules by killing hostages who waved white flag: Report

New Delhi [India]: Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, on Monday, condoled the death of four soldiers in an ambush attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector on Thursday of last week. Addressing the Christmas programme at the Supreme Court, the CJI said, "We should not forget the soldiers standing tall on the borders."
"We lost four members of our armed forces a few days ago. So as we celebrate Christmas, let us not forget those on the borders who are spending these cold mornings protecting us and our nation," Justice Chandrachud added. Later, on Monday, Army chief General Manoj Pande is scheduled to visit the Rajouri sector to review the ongoing counter-terrorist operations underway in the area. Four Army personnel were killed while three others were injured after heavily armed terrorists ambushed two Army vehicles near Thanandi in the Rajouri sector on Thursday last week.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/jandk:-army-pays-tributes-to-fallen-soldiers-as-search-for-terrorists-continues" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/jandk:-army-pays-tributes-to-fallen-soldiers-as-search-for-terrorists-continues</a>&nbsp;
 On Sunday, the four fallen soldiers, Naik Birender Singh, Rifleman Gautam Kumar, Naik Karan Kumar, and Rifleman Chandan Kumar, were accorded a tearful senf-off at a wreath-laying ceremony in Rajouri. The Indian Army said on Saturday that it was conducting an inquiry into the deaths of three civilians in the Poonch-Rajouri sector, where terrorists carried out the ambush attack on the forces.  Taking to X, the Indian Army posted, "Search operations by the security forces are continuing in the area of operations after the incident of December 21. Reports have been received regarding three civilian deaths in the area. The matter is under investigation." "The Indian Army stands committed to extending full support and cooperation in the conduct of investigations," the army added in its post. A fierce encounter broke out after terrorists fired at two army vehicles passing through Dera Ki Gali in Rajouri's Poonch region at 3.45 pm on Thursday. "At around 3.45 pm on December 21, two Army vehicles, carrying troops to the operational site, came under fire by terrorists. The jawans returned fire immediately," an Army official said. "Our troops are in the process of intensifying the joint operation against terrorists underway in the area since last evening. The operations are taking place in the 48 Rashtriya Rifles area," the official added.
—ANI

Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, on Monday, condoled the death of four soldiers in an ambush attack by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri sector

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Civilian who inadvertently crossed LoC sent back to PoK

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Civilian who inadvertently crossed LoC sent back to PoK

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