World

On the news of raids and arrests of journalists associated with the news website Newsclick in India and allegations of funding from China to the online portal, America has said that it is a supporter of the strong role of media in a transparent democracy.

Vedanta Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, said the State Department could not comment on "the veracity of claims" that NewsClick has ties to the Chinese government.

Vedanta Patel said during the daily briefing that the US government has previously discussed with the Indian government and others the importance of respecting the human rights of journalists, including freedom of expression.

The newspaper 'The Hindu' has said in one of its news that he has spoken to a spokesperson of the National Security Council of US President Joe Biden.

On the allegations against Newsclick, the spokesperson said, "We have appealed to the Government of India to respect the rights of journalists, including freedom of expression online and offline."

The spokesperson told "The Hindu" that the US administration is aware of the allegations that NewsClick has Chinese links but declined to comment on the veracity of those claims. He said that the US President strongly supports the role of media in a transparent democracy.

The US has termed Canada's allegations against India in the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar as 'serious' and said it needs to be investigated.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered on 18 June 2023 in British Columbia, Canada. On Monday, September 18, 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said in his country's Parliament that Indian agencies may have a hand in the murder of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Since then, diplomatic relations between India and Canada are full of tension. India has rejected Justin Trudeau's allegations.

John Kirby, Coordinator of Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the US, told a press conference, "During the visit of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, he had a discussion on this matter with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. We will certainly leave it to those two countries to talk about their bilateral matters."

Kirby said, "These allegations are serious and should be thoroughly investigated. As we have previously appealed to India to actively participate in this investigation."

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has said that India and Canada will have to sit together and resolve their differences in the case of the death of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

On Friday, September 29, 2023, Jaishankar, while speaking to Indian journalists in Washington, said that India is ready to look into the information related to Canada's allegations against Indian agencies in the murder of Nijjar.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered on 18 June 2023 in British Columbia, Canada. Jaishankar said, "The Canadian side has expressed suspicion of involvement of Indian agencies in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Some allegations have been made against Indian agencies. But we have clearly told them that this is not India's policy. If any specific or relevant information is shared by Canada, we are always ready to look into it.''

He said that the bigger issue is that there is a need to pay attention to the freedom given to anti-India activities in Canada and solve the problems arising from it.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said in his country's Parliament on Monday, September 18, 2023, that Indian agencies may have a hand in the murder of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. After this the diplomatic relations between India and Canada have deteriorated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met the senior former commander of the Wagner Army.

The Kremlin has said that Andrei Torshev now works for Russia's Defense Ministry.

Andrei Torshev is a former associate of Wagner's late chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Prigozhin died in a plane crash in August 2023.

Prigozhin unsuccessfully attempted a coup in Russia in June 2023.

Just two months later, in August 2023, he died in an air crash.

The Kremlin said President Putin has asked Torshev to oversee the work of a unit of volunteer fighters in Ukraine.

In reference to the war in Ukraine, President Putin told Torshev that he would oversee 'volunteer units that carry out many war-related tasks.'

"You know about the issues that need to be resolved in advance so that the war work can go on successfully," Putin said.

There is news of 52 people killed in a massive explosion in Pakistan.

The blast occurred on Friday, September 29, 2023, near a mosque in Pakistan's Balochistan province where people had gathered to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad.

Police suspect that it was a suicide attack to target a religious gathering in Mastung city.

Mastung District Health Officer Rashid Muhammad Saeed confirmed that at least 52 people were killed and dozens injured in the blast near Madina Mosque on Al Falah Road in Mastung district.

DSP Nawaz Gashguri is also among the dead. According to Atta al-Munaim, assistant commissioner of Mastung, the blast occurred near the city's Madina Mosque, where people were gathering to celebrate Eid al-Milad al-Nabi.

Police say that the injured have been admitted to two hospitals. Two police officers from Mastung Shah confirmed the death toll to BBC News.

Sarfaraz Bugti, the Home Minister of Pakistan's Balochistan province, described the blast as a "disgusting act".

Many videos available on social media show that rescue workers and local people are trying to save the injured.

No group has yet taken responsibility for this attack.

People had to gather from Madina Mosque and join the procession. Atta al-Munaim had initially said that at least six people had been killed in the blast.

Balochistan's acting Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki has condemned the blast at the procession in Mastung and ordered an investigation into the incident.

The statement issued by him said that "disruptive elements do not deserve any concession and those targeting peaceful processions will be dealt with strictly."

On the other hand, Acting Information Minister John Achakzai has announced three days of mourning in the entire province.

Balochistan government's acting information minister John Achakzai has said that emergency has been imposed in Quetta hospitals after the Mastung blast.

He said that on the instructions of the Balochistan government, a rescue team has been sent to Mastung and the seriously injured are being sent to Quetta.

According to Information Minister John Achakzai, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki has directed the arrest of those responsible for the blast.

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada and an ally of Justin Trudeau's government, has said that there is a "clear" indication of the involvement of a foreign government (India) in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

"As Prime Minister Trudeau has shared publicly, Canadian intelligence clearly indicates that a Canadian citizen was murdered on Canadian soil and that a foreign government was involved," Jagmeet Singh told reporters in Ottawa.''

According to news agency PTI, Jagmeet Singh said, "This is extraordinary intelligence and that is why we will continue to urge the Government of Canada to conduct a thorough investigation so that those responsible can be brought to light."

Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party is the fourth largest party in the House of Commons of Canada.

Jagmeet Singh, speaking to the Vancouver Sun, said he received a briefing on material prepared by former Governor-General David Johnson. David Johnson was appointed Special Rapporteur to prepare a report on the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

However he has now resigned from this post.

Jagmeet Singh has said, "On the condition of maintaining confidentiality, I have seen the documents of Johnson's report and two things were very clear to me. One report confirms that we should hold a public inquiry into this matter."

''Secondly, after reading the documents, it is revealed that no immediate action was taken by the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister did not show promptness despite the intelligence."

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is on a state visit to India after the G20 conference held in Delhi.

During this, he held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

After the meeting, the Crown Prince said, "There have been no disagreements throughout the history of this (India-Saudi Arabia) relationship, today we are working on future opportunities... I would like to thank India for its management of the G20 summit. I congratulate the many initiatives that have been achieved, including the Economic Corridor connecting the Middle East, India and Europe, it is important that we work diligently to build it."

The Crown Prince is on a three-day visit to New Delhi and met PM Modi on Monday, 11 September 2023, after the G20 summit that ended on Sunday, 10 September 2023.

Earlier in February 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had visited India, this is his second state visit.

During the G20 in India, an agreement has been signed to build an economic and rail corridor between India-Middle-East-Europe. This agreement is being considered as an effort to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative.

A bilateral meeting was held between Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at Hyderabad House, Delhi.

After this meeting, PM Modi said that this meeting will take the relations between the two countries to a new dimension.

He said, “We are adding new and modern dimensions to our relations. Saudi Arabia is one of the important strategic partners for India. As the world's two fastest-growing economies, our partnership is vital to the peace of the entire region. During our meeting with the Crown Prince, we identified a number of initiatives to take our partnership to the next level. This meeting will give new direction and new energy to our relations."

PM Modi said, "India has taken a historic start in establishing a corridor between West Asia and Europe. This will not only connect two countries but will also strengthen economic cooperation, energy development and digital connectivity between Europe and Asia. Crown Prince, I heartily congratulate you on the rapid progress Saudi Arabia is making under your Vision 2030."

The Crown Prince is on a three-day visit to New Delhi and met PM Modi during his state visit on Monday, 11 September 2023, following the G20 Summit that ended on Sunday, 10 September 2023.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had reached Rashtrapati Bhavan for the formal welcome ceremony. Here he was welcomed by the President of India Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Brazilian President Luiz Ianásu Lula da Silva, speaking to the media in New Delhi on Monday, September 11, 2023, said that it is expected that the war between Ukraine and Russia will end during Brazil's presidency. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping will participate in the summit to be held in Brazil.

Responding to a question from news agency PTI, da Silva said, "I hope that when we start the summit in Brazil, the war will be over."

He said, "I would like to congratulate India for organizing the summit in an excellent manner. We have received a lot of warmth from the Indian people. Brazil is the host country of G20 next year. We want to organize events in several cities in Brazil. I don't know why President Putin and Xi Jinping did not attend the G20 this time but I will invite them and I hope they will come to Brazil and participate in the summit."

India was hosting the G20 summit which ended on Sunday, 10 September 2023. The New Delhi Declaration was issued unanimously on the evening of Saturday, 9 September 2023. India is being praised for the diplomatic understanding it has brought together on the Ukraine-Russia war.

US President Joe Biden said on Sunday, September 10, 2023 that he raised the importance of protecting human rights and freedom of the press in his talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This was the first visit of President Biden to India, who reached New Delhi on Friday, September 8, 2023, to participate in the G20 summit held in India. He held wide-ranging talks with PM Modi during his visit and talked about further "deepening and diversifying" the bilateral partnership.

After Delhi, President Biden reached Vietnam for a day on Sunday, September 10, 2023.

Speaking to the media in Hanoi, he said, “I once again thank Prime Minister Modi for his leadership and hosting the G20. We have had substantial discussions on how we will continue to strengthen the partnership between the two countries."

"As I always do, I also raised the issue of respect for human rights and the importance of freedom of civil society and press in a strong and prosperous country in my conversation with PM Modi."