Global Updates: Jaishankar said – US itself asked to buy Russian oil, then imposed tariffs

India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has defended its decision to buy oil from Russia, saying that after the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in 2022, the US had itself urged India to buy Russian oil to keep the global oil market stable and prices from skyrocketing. During an event in Finland, Jaishankar said that after the embargo on Russia, European countries moved away from Russian oil and started buying large quantities of oil from West Asia. West Asia has long been a major source of oil for India. In such a situation, the market situation changed. Jaishankar said, “At that time, the US asked India to buy Russian oil specifically so that the oil market could stabilize.” He said that considering the situation, India took a pragmatic decision and bought cheap oil. Jaishankar also raised questions on the attitude of western countries. He said that first the US sought help from India to stabilize the market, then imposed tariffs and later withdrew them. This shows that decisions in international politics are not always based on ideals, ethics or principles. Other big news related to international affairs… 16 killed in Pakistan Army and Rangers firing on protesters in Rawalkot, PoK. At least 16 people were reportedly killed while over 37 people were injured in firing by the Pakistan Army and Rangers on protesters in Rawalkot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The incident took place at a time when thousands of people were protesting against inflation, electricity tariff hike and basic political-economic rights. According to local sources, a large number of people had gathered at the Eidgah ground in Rawalkot. Meanwhile, the security forces opened fire on the crowd. After the firing, chaos broke out at the scene and the injured were taken to the hospital. For the past several days, agitation has been going on in PoK for the demand of cheap electricity, wheat-rice and more rights. Tensions further escalated after the recent banning of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The administration has arrested many people and has also shut down internet services in some areas. According to local claims, 53 civilians have been killed so far in the agitation since June 5. Protest leaders have said they will continue their agitation to demand economic relief and democratic rights. India condemned the incident, calling it genocide and saying it reflected the suppression of people’s rights in areas under Pakistan’s control. India has urged the international community to take cognizance of the matter and Pakistan to respect people’s rights. Princess Bajrakitibha of Thailand passed away after being in a coma for over 3 years. Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand died at the age of 47. She was in a coma since December 2022. Thailand’s royal family announced Friday that despite continued medical efforts, his condition continued to deteriorate and he died Thursday evening at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok. In December 2022, Princess Bajrakitibha suddenly fainted while exercising with her dogs. Doctors later revealed that she had a mycoplasma infection in her heart, which caused severe irregular heartbeats and caused her to fall into a coma. Born on 7 December 1978, Bajrakitibha was the eldest child of King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. He studied law and earned two master’s degrees from Cornell University in the US. After serving in the Thai Mission to the United Nations, he worked in the Attorney General’s Office in Thailand. From 2012 to 2014, she was the Ambassador of Thailand to Austria. Later she was also the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ‘Rule of Law’ Ambassador. In 2021, King Vajiralongkorn appointed him chief of staff of his personal security unit and gave him the rank of general. Due to his administrative abilities and public image, he was also seen as a possible successor to the Thai monarchy. A. On sending drones to Korea. South Korea’s Seoul District Court has sentenced former South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol to an additional 30 years in prison for inciting tensions by sending drones to North Korea. The purpose of the campaign was to provoke North Korea to create a state of emergency and then to impose martial law, the court said. The court convicted Yoon Suk Yeol, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command Yoo In-hyung, and former head of the Drone Operations Command Kim Yong-dae for treason and abuse of power. The court said that the threat of military conflict between the two countries has increased as these officials have provoked North Korea under the guise of military operations. Drones were sent to drop propaganda material on Pyongyang in October 2024, the ruling said. According to the court, the action was carried out at the behest of Yun Suk Yeol and was expected to be retaliated against by North Korea. The prosecution claimed that the operation was part of preparations to impose martial law in December 2024. Yun imposed martial law on December 3, saying it was necessary to protect the country from “anti-national forces”, but was forced to withdraw the decision after mass protests. Yoon Suk Yeol is already serving a life sentence for sedition. He has also been sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power and obstructing arrest. US to cut fighter jets and warships for NATO operations in Europe The US is preparing to cut back on the number of fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft and warships it makes available for NATO operations in Europe. According to media reports, the move could affect NATO’s long-range attack and surveillance capabilities. According to reports, the US is considering reducing the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets available for NATO operations from 150 to 100. It is proposed to reduce the number of aircraft used for maritime surveillance from 26 to 15. All eight aerial refueling tanker aircraft provided for Europe could be phased out under the plan. In addition, a missile-capable submarine, an aircraft carrier and several associated warships are likely to be redeployed to other areas. Dozens of fighter jets participating in the operation could also be deployed with aircraft carriers. The report also said that one of the two bomber groups assigned to the defense of Europe could be sent to another area. This is likely to affect NATO’s strategic and surveillance capabilities. However, there was no immediate official response from NATO and the US Department of Defense in this regard. Desert area warned of ‘extreme flooding’ China has warned of ‘extreme flooding’ in and around northwestern Xinjiang this summer. According to officials, higher-than-normal temperatures, heavy rainfall and rapidly melting glaciers have also increased the risk of flooding in desert areas. According to state broadcaster CCTV, the Taklamakan desert, China’s largest, recorded its first floods of the year in early June. Usually such a situation is seen in August, but this time the unusual changes in the weather led to flooding earlier than expected. China’s weather administration warned that the flooding could cause serious damage to roads, railways and oil and gas infrastructure. Poland demands Ukraine to rename street Poland has demanded to rename a street named after Stepan Bandera in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. Polish officials say that in Poland, the legacy of Bandera and his organization is linked to the massacre of Polish civilians in World War II, and such symbols damage relations between the two countries. A street in Vinnytsia, previously named after Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, was named after Stepan Bandera in 2022. The move was part of a campaign by Ukraine to remove names associated with Russian influence. Stepan Bandera was a Ukrainian nationalist leader. In Ukraine he is revered as a nationalist symbol, while Poland links him to the massacre of Polish civilians in World War II and holds him responsible for war crimes. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently warned that if Ukraine does not take Poland’s concerns over historical disputes seriously, Warsaw may adopt a more pragmatic policy in the future, prioritizing its national interests. ‘Pokemon Go’ data may have been used for military mapping: Whistleblower claims Former Google employee and whistleblower Jack Voorhees has claimed that location and visual data collected over the years by players of the popular mobile game ‘Pokemon Go’ may have been used for US military purposes. However, this claim has not been independently verified and there has been no official response from the companies concerned. Voorhees said in an interview that most athletes had no idea that the information collected by their smartphone cameras and GPS could have future military uses. According to him, this data provides ground level information about places around the world. Pokemon Go was launched in 2016 by the American company Niantic. Based on augmented reality technology, the game encourages players to discover digital characters by visiting real-world locations. Voorhees claims that ground-level imagery and location information can make satellite imagery more effective. According to him, this type of data can be useful in creating a three-dimensional structure of an area and developing a detailed understanding of the terrain. British Defense Secretary John Haley resigns over funding NATO targets British Defense Secretary John Haley has handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Healy accused the government and the finance ministry of failing to provide the financial resources needed to modernize the military and meet NATO commitments. His resignation is being considered as a new political blow to the Labor government. In his open letter, Healy said he had long called for a comprehensive reform of the defense sector and to take defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, but the government had failed to demonstrate a clear financial commitment towards this. He also criticized the defense budget announced on Monday, which is far below the actual needs of the military. The resignation comes at a time when Prime Minister Keir Starr’s government is already facing several political challenges. The Labor Party was defeated in the recent local elections and some government appointments were disputed. Healy’s resignation could increase pressure on the Starmer government over defense policy and military investment. China has imposed an entry ban on the Philippine defense minister and his family. China has imposed an entry ban on Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro and his family amid the ongoing dispute over the South China Sea. China has barred him, his wife and children from entering the country, Hong Kong and Macau. Manila has expressed concern over relations between the two countries, calling the move an “unfriendly act”. China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that Teodoro has repeatedly made false comments against China, which have harmed China’s legitimate interests and China-Philippines relations. The ministry said Chinese institutions and citizens will also not be able to have any dealings or cooperation with Teodoro and his family. Responding to the sanctions, Teodoro said he would continue to do his duty and speak out against China’s actions in the South China Sea. He accused China of trying to suppress critics. फिलीपिन्सच्या परराष्ट्र मंत्रालयाने म्हटले आहे की या निर्णयामुळे दोन्ही देशांमधील विश्वास निर्माण आणि रचनात्मक संवाद प्रक्रियेवर परिणाम होईल. परराष्ट्र मंत्री मारिया थेरेसा लाझारो यांनी सांगितले की, मनिला या मुद्द्यावर चीनशी चर्चा करेल आणि राजनैतिक तोडगा काढेल. खैबर पख्तूनख्वामध्ये दोन पोलिसांचा गोळ्या झाडून मृत्यू पाकिस्तानच्या खैबर पख्तूनख्वा प्रांतात शुक्रवारी दोन वेगवेगळ्या लक्ष्यित हल्ल्यांमध्ये दोन पोलिसांचा गोळ्या झाडून मृत्यू झाला. दोन्ही घटना बन्नू जिल्ह्यात घडल्या, ज्यात अलिकडच्या काही महिन्यांत दहशतवादी हिंसाचार आणि सुरक्षा दलांवर हल्ले झाले आहेत. पोलिसांनी दिलेल्या माहितीनुसार, पहिला हल्ला सेदगी बाकाखेल भागात झाला. पोलिस हवालदार मोहम्मद रोशन यांच्यावर अज्ञात बंदुकधारींनी त्यांच्या घराबाहेर गोळीबार केला, त्यात त्यांचा जागीच मृत्यू झाला. घटनेनंतर हल्लेखोर पळून गेले. दुसरी घटना आझाद मंडी परिसरात घडली. पोलीस अधिकारी मिश्कावत उल्लाह आमिर बकाखेल हे तबलीघी मरकज येथे नमाज अदा करून घरी परतत असताना त्यांच्यावर हल्ला झाला. गोळीबारात त्यांचा मृत्यू झाला. गेल्या महिन्यात आत्मघातकी हल्ल्यात 15 पोलिसांचा मृत्यू झाला होता. या भागातील वाढता हिंसाचार हे पाकिस्तानच्या अंतर्गत सुरक्षेसमोरील गंभीर आव्हान असल्याचे सुरक्षा तज्ज्ञांचे मत आहे.