Home » Catch Wire » Your wire on 29 September
 

Surgical strikes on terror launch pads across LoC; Pak calls it unprovoked firing

The Indian Army on Wednesday night conducted surgical strikes on terror launch pads at the Line of Control (LoC), the Director General Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, said on Thursday in a press briefing.

"India conducted surgical strikes last night across the LoC to safeguard our nation, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday. Significant casualties have been caused to terrorists and those trying to shield them. We don't have a plan to further conduct such strikes. India has spoken to Pakistan," DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said at a press conference.

The DGMO added that "the operation has now ended".

SAARC summit unlikely after 4 nations pull out citing terrorism

The 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit is unlikely to be conducted in November, after four nations decided to pull out of the summit, citing increasing terrorism in the region.

Four out of the eight members of the South Asian grouping - India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan - have decided to skip the Summit which is to be hosted by Pakistan from 9 to 10 November.

Nepal, the current Chair of SAARC, has confirmed receiving messages from four nations conveying their inability to attend the summit due in Islamabad. However Nepal is yet to take a decision to on the summit.

When John Kerry spoke to Sushma twice over 2 days

When John Kerry spoke to top Indian leader, Sushma Swaraj, for the first time, it wasn't to congratulate her for something or express solidarity over the recent Uri attacks. It was to ask India not to escalate the situation with Pakistan.

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has had two conversations over the last two days with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, reported sources. The conversations were over the increasing diplomatic tension between India and Pakistan. On Tuesday, India pulled out of the SAARC summit in Islamabad in November. Following this, three more nations - Afganisthan, Bangladesh and Bhutan - have also decided to skip the event. Today, New Delhi is to review the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan.

Cauvery row: Siddaramaiah to meet Uma Bharati today as Karnataka defies SC order

With the Karnataka government not complying just yet with the Supreme Court's order to urgently release more water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will meet union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today.

The meeting had been earlier called by the apex court, which expressed its displeasure at Karnataka's inaction, saying it violates the spirit of federalism or cooperation between states.

Karnataka says it has decided to wait till the crucial meeting today called by Bharti, which will be attended by Siddaramaiah and a representative of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is in hospital and cannot attend the session.

PM Modi to launch 'Progress Panchayat' for minorities today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Central government will launch Progress Panchayat today to reach out to the minority community and publicise the various welfare measures for their betterment, initiated by the NDA government.

Minister of State for Minority Affairs (independent charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will kick-start the programme from Haryana's Mewat. The programme will be organised in 100 places across the country in the coming days where Union ministers will interact with people about the several schemes.

Apat from holding the panchayat, Naqvi will also inaugurate a 100-bed hostel building for girls at Hathni in Palwal and staff quarters at schools in Nuh and Nagina. He will also lay the foundation stone for a model school in Chilwali.

Congress rebukes US President Barack Obama veto on 9/11 bill

In what is being termed as the first override of a presidential veto, Congress on 28 September rebuked United States President Barack Obama's veto of a controversial 9/11 victims bill.

Earlier this week, President Obama had vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, fearing that the move could have serious implications for America's national interests.

The vote tally in the Senate was 97 to 1.