Dec 15,2023:President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed a “victory” for Ukraine and Europe after European Union leaders agreed to open membership talks with Kyiv, but the mood was soured just hours later after Hungary carried through on threats to block plans to channel crucial financial aid to Ukraine.
European Council President Charles Michel, host of the summit in Brussels, announced Thursday’s agreement on membership talks in a social media post, calling it “a clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent”.
Zelenskyy welcomed the decision as “a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens,” he said in a post on X.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was “a strategic decision and a day that will remain engraved in the history of our union”.
“These countries belong to the European family,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
The EU also agreed to open talks with Moldova, and granted EU candidate status to Georgia. Michel said it would also advance an EU bid by another hopeful – Bosnia and Herzegovina – once it reaches “the necessary degree of compliance” with criteria.
Hungary blocks funding
But the mood was soured in the early hours of Friday after Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced he had blocked plans for the EU to send 50 billion euros ($54bn) in financial aid to Kyiv as it battles to remove Russian troops from its territory.
For weeks, Orban had been promising to block the membership deal and the funding, which he claimed were not in the interests of Hungary or the EU.
While Orban had agreed not to be in the room for the membership vote – allowing it to pass – they were unable to overcome his resistance to the budget proposal put forward by Michel.
“We still have some time, Ukraine is not out of money in the next few weeks,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters on leaving the talks. “I am fairly confident we can get a deal early next year, we are thinking of late January.”
Zelenskyy has been rallying allies’ support for his country amid concerns their backing might be waning.
Earlier this week, he travelled to the United States, where he hoped to persuade Republican lawmakers to approve billions of dollars in new funding that they have blocked in Congress.
US President Joe Biden has warned their refusal to back the new spending plays into Putin’s hands.
‘United and ready’
Ukraine launched its bid to become part of the EU after Moscow began its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and was officially named a candidate to join in June that year.
Fellow former Soviet republic and neighbour Moldova had applied at the same time as Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has breathed new life into the EU’s stalled push to take on new members as the bloc looks to keep Russian and Chinese influence at bay.
In June 2022, the European Commission set Kyiv seven reform benchmarks to complete, including tackling corruption and curbing the power of its oligarchs, before talks should start.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said the EU’s decision on Thursday showed that it “highly appreciated the reforms we have made in recent years and the implementation of all the recommendations of the European Commission”.
“A difficult path lies ahead. We are united and ready,” he said.
The talks themselves are likely to take years.
EU treaties oblige members to help “by all means in their power” another EU country that is victim of armed aggression on its territory. If Ukraine becomes an EU member while the war with Russia is ongoing, EU countries would have to respect that.
The EU would also acquire a long new border with Russia and Belarus with implications for security, migration and defence.
Dec 14,2023: Argentina’s government has announced it will slash the value of its currency, the peso, by more than 50 percent against the US dollar as its new far-right president seeks radical solutions to fix the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.
President Javier Milei‘s economy chief announced the painful measure on Tuesday, saying it was necessary for Argentina to “avoid catastrophe”.
The devaluation would drop the peso’s value from 400 to the dollar to more than 800 to the dollar, a blow to tens of millions of Argentinians already struggling to make ends meet.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced a raft of other austerity measures, including sweeping subsidy cuts, the cancellation of tenders for public works projects, and plans to axe nine government ministries.
However, the government plans to double social spending for the poorest to help them absorb the economic shock.
“For a few months, we’re going to be worse than before,” Caputo said in his televised address.
“If we continue as we are, we are inevitably heading toward hyperinflation,” he said.
The planned measures drew praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to whom Argentina owes $45bn, but sparked harsh criticism from some progressive activists.
Left-wing activist Juan Grabois said that Caputo had declared “a social murder without flinching like a psychopath about to massacre his defenceless victims”.
“Your salary in the private sector, in the public sector, in the popular, social and solidarity economy, in the cooperative or informal sector, for retirees and pensioners, will get you half in the supermarket,” Grabois said. “Do you really think that people are not going to protest?”
Jimena Blanco, chief analyst with risk consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft, said Milei’s government was trying to temper an otherwise guaranteed economic crash landing.
“He promised a very tough pill to swallow and he’s delivering that pill,” she said. “The question is how long will popular patience last in terms of waiting for the economic situation to change.”
Economic shock
The economic overhaul is part of the new strategy by Milei, who was sworn in on Sunday and has aggressively sought to tackle the fiscal deficit he believes is the root of Argentina’s economic woes.
A self-described “anarcho-capitalist”, Milei argues harsh austerity is needed to put Argentina back on the path to prosperity and that there is no time for a gradualist approach. However, he has promised any adjustments will almost entirely affect the state rather than the private sector.
Argentinians, disillusioned with skyrocketing inflation and a 40 percent poverty rate, have proven surprisingly receptive to his vision.
New Delhi, Dec 13,2023: In a major security breach, when the Lok Sabha proceedings was underway, two persons on Wednesday jumped into the house chamber from the visitors’ gallery, triggering panic and chaos among the members.
Televised footage of the proceedings showed the members attempting to catch the intruders as they climbed from desk to desk. The house was adjourned moments later.
One person was seen leaping over the benches of the Lok Sabha while another was seen dangling from the public gallery spraying a yellow-coloured gas when the Zero Hour was in progress.
Both the miscreants have been apprehended by the security personnel and further enquiry is being carried out.
The proceedings in the lower house were adjourned soon after the incident till 2 PM. According to a preliminary probe, tear gas canister was found in the shoe of the suspect.
It may be mentioned that the incident happened on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack in Parliament in 2001.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said, “This is certainly a security breach because today we observed the death anniversary of people who sacrificed their lives in 2001.”
“This is a serious breach of security, especially on December 13, the day when Parliament was attacked in 2001,” Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Dimple Yadav also raised concerns and said, “All those who come here, be it visitors or reporters, don’t carry tags. So, I think the government should pay attention to this. I think this is a complete security lapse. Anything could have happened inside the Lok Sabha.”
Meanwhile, two other persons, identified as 42-year-old Neelam and 25-year-old Amol Shinde, were detained by local police outside New Delhi’s Transport Bhavan, where they were protesting with yellow smoke.
After the incident, the proceedings of the Lok Sabha resumed at 2 pm. Speaking over security breach in the lower house, Speaker Om Birla said that initial investigation on the incident which took place during zero hour, is being done and necessary instructions have also been given to Delhi Police.
He added that in the preliminary investigation, it has been found that it was just a cloud of smoke and there was no need to worry about the smoke”
Birla said, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure the functioning of the house despite all adversities”.
December 11,Monday 2023: The Supreme Court on Monday ruled the former state of Jammu and Kashmir did not have any ‘internal sovereignty’ that was distinguishable from the powers and privileges enjoyed by other states in the country.
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said while there was a clear absence in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir of a reference to sovereignty, in contrast, the Constitution of India emphasises in its Preamble that the people have resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, socialistic, secular, democratic republic.
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‘The State of Jammu and Kashmir does not have ‘internal sovereignty’ which is distinguishable from the powers and privileges enjoyed by other States in the country,’ it said.
The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai and Surya Kant, said that all states in the country have legislative and executive power albeit to differing degrees.
‘The Constitution accommodates concerns specific to a particular State by providing for arrangements which are specific to that State. Articles 371A to 371J are examples of special arrangements for different States. This is a feature of asymmetric federalism, like Article 370 which became applicable to Jammu and Kashmir on the adoption of the Constitution,’ the bench said.
CJI Chandrachud, who penned a 352-page verdict on behalf of Justice Gavai and Surya Kant, said, in asymmetric federalism, a particular state may enjoy a degree of autonomy which another state does not.
‘The difference, however, remains one of degree and not of kind. Different states may enjoy different benefits under the federal setup but the common thread is federalism,’ it said.
Justices Kaul and Khanna wrote separate but concurring verdicts on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 which accorded special status to the erstwhile state.
The bench said the Instrument of Accession (IoA) executed by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1947 provided that nothing in it would affect the continuance of the sovereignty of the Maharaja in and over the State.
‘On November 25, 1949, a proclamation was issued for the State of Jammu and Kashmir by Yuvraj Karan Singh. The declaration in this Proclamation that the Constitution of India would not only supersede all other constitutional provisions in the State which were inconsistent with it but also abrogate them achieves what would have been attained by an agreement of merger,’ the bench said.
It added that the Proclamation reflects the full and final surrender of sovereignty by Jammu and Kashmir, through its sovereign ruler, to India to her people who are sovereign.
‘Neither the constitutional setup nor any other factors indicate that the State of Jammu and Kashmir retained an element of sovereignty. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was only to further define the relationship between the Union of India and the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The relationship was already defined by the IoA, the Proclamation issued by Yuvraj Karan Singh in November 1949 and more importantly, by the Constitution of India,’ it said.
The top court said residual legislative powers cannot be equated to residual sovereignty as it reflects the value of federalism and the federal underpinnings of the Constitution of India.
‘Neither Parliament nor any of the States have the unrestricted power to make laws. Each has its own sphere of legislation, as demarcated by the three lists in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. Each is supreme in its own sphere. The States have the plenary power to enact laws but this alone cannot be taken as a sign of sovereignty of individual States,’ it said.
The bench said it is true that many commentators refer to these aspects of federalism as ‘internal sovereignty’ but by whatever name so called, it is clear that all states in the country have legislative and executive power albeit to differing degrees.
‘If the position that Jammu and Kashmir has sovereignty by virtue of Article 370 were to be accepted, it would follow that other States which had special arrangements with the Union also possessed sovereignty. This is clearly not the case,’ the bench said.
It said the people of Jammu and Kashmir, therefore, do not exercise sovereignty in a manner which is distinct from the way in which the people of other states exercise their sovereignty.
Chennai, Dec 5,2023: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin, who has been periodically reviewing the Cyclone situation, said the present cyclonic storm was the worst in recent memory that resulted in more incessant downpour than the 2015 floods.
He said due to systematic and comprehensive structural preparations efforts loss of lives were prevented.
Mr Stalin, who had deputed senior Ministers and IAS offcials to various districts to monitor the situation and assist in relief, said the rescue and relief works in all the affected districts were going on on a war footing.
He also exuded confidence that with people’s power the effects of natural calamities will be eliminated.
Mr Stalin also appealed to the people who have done charity, to join hands with the government to alleviate the suffering of fellow human beings.
In a social media post, the Chief Minister said “We are facing the worst storm in recent memory.”
“More than the 2015 flood, ‘ #CycloneMichaung ‘ has resulted in more incessant downpours”, he said.
“We have reduced/prevented loss of life to a great extent due to systematic improvements and comprehensive structural preparations”, he added.
“Rescue and relief work is going on at a wartime pace. Our government will always support the people who are suffering”, he said.
“We will overcome the party differences and with the help of people’s power, we will quickly eliminate the effects of natural calamities”, Mr Stalin said, adding “A miracle of nature… Let’s win with the support of man!”.
“I call on all the people who have done charity to join hands with the government to alleviate the suffering of fellow human beings. May mankind win! #ChennaiRains #ChennaiFloods”, he said.
Gaza/Jerusalem, Dec 2,2023: The death toll of journalists and media workers since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7 has reached 61, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement.
“As of December 1, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 61 journalists and media workers were among the more than 16,000 killed since the war began on October 7—with some 14,800 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank and 1,200 deaths in Israel,” the CPJ said.
It said the deadliest day of the conflict for journalist deaths was October 7, with six journalists killed; and the second-deadliest day occurred on November 18, with five killed.
Ankara, Dec 2,2023: Turkish forces on Friday evening carried out airstrikes against 16 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in cross-border operations in northern Iraq, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said the operations were carried out in the Gara, Metina, Hakurk and Qandil regions to prevent PKK members from infiltrating Türkiye to stage attacks.
The airstrikes hit caves, bunkers, shelters, and warehouses which were believed to be housing PKK ringleaders, it said.
A large number of “terrorists” were “neutralized” in the operations, during which Turkish-made munitions were used, it added.
Turkish authorities often use the term “neutralize” in their statements to imply that the alleged “terrorists” have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.
The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq against the PKK, especially in the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.
Dec 2,2023: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it had struck over 400 targets linked to Palestinian movement Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, including arms storage facilities and infrastructure.
“Over the past day, the IDF struck over 400 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said on Telegram.
The military added that it had struck a weapons storage compound, Hamas infrastructure, and “a mosque used by the Islamic Jihad as an operational command centre.”
The air forces also struck 50 targets in the area of Khan Yunis in the south of the enclave overnight, the IDF said.
On Friday morning, the Israel Defence Forces said that the Palestinian movement Hamas had violated the truce between Israel and Hamas that had been in effect since November 24.
As a result, the Israeli military resumed fighting in the enclave.
On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel.
On October 27, Israel launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.
Nov 30,2023:In a landmark development towards peace in the northeast region, the oldest militant group of Manipur, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) on Wednesday signed a peace agreement with the central government.
Calling it a historic achievement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X, ”A historic milestone achieved!!! Modi govt’s relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast have added a new chapter of fulfillment as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) signed a peace agreement, today in New Delhi.”
Shah called it a step towards all-inclusive development and a better future for the youth in the northeast region of the country.
He said the UNLF, the oldest Meitei armed group of Manipur, has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream.
He welcomed the UNLF for the democratic processes, extending best wishes in the journey on the path of peace and progress.
Lamjingba Khundongbam, representing UNLF talking to a news agency in New Delhi said, “We have signed a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India today….”
The representatives of the UNLF were in New Delhi for signing the ceasefire agreement with the government.
Earlier this month, the government had declared nine Meitiei extremist organisations as unlawful associations for a period of five years, which also included UNLF and its armed wing, the Manipur Peoples’ Army (MPA).
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on X, “The oldest armed group of Manipur has chosen the path of peace, renouncing violence to join the mainstream and embrace democracy. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has signed a peace agreement in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in our relentless pursuit of permanent peace in the Northeast. The unwavering support and vision of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for a brighter and peaceful North-East has made this possible. May this collaborative effort contribute to a harmonious and prosperous future for Manipur and the entire region.”