SAMAJWEEKLY = 466 13-08-2022

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Stalin announces Rs 20L
solatium to kin of soldier
killed in Kashmir gunfight
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
M.K. Stalin has announced a solatium of Rs
20 lakh to the family of soldier Lakshmanan.
D (24), who was killed in a gunfight with the
terrorists at Pargal in Jammu and Kashmir's
Rajouri district. The mortal remains of
Lakshmanan were expected to arrive at his
hometown in Padupatti, Thummukkundu in
Tamil Nadu's Madurai district on Saturday.
Stalin and Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi
expressed condolences to the family of the
soldier, who was a rifleman in the Indian
Army. The hometown of Lakshmanan, fell in
a pall of gloom after the news broke out that
he was martyred in the encounter.
R.K. Mukundasamy, a local farmer in
Thummukundu panchayat while speaking to
IANS said, "Lakshmanan and his twin brother
Ramar were hard-working youngsters and
both wanted to join the Army. Lakshmanan
did his B.Com while Ramar completed a BBA
course. While Lakshmanan got into the service
and joined the Army in 2019, Ramar is
looking after the family's agriculture."
The local people said that the mother of
Lakshmanan, Andal was inconsolable after
the news was conveyed to her.
His brother Ramar told the mediapersons
that their parents, father Dharmaraj and mother
Andal had given full freedom to them to
pursue their choicest profession. He said that
Lakshmanan regularly called home. Tamil
New Delhi : Will China-Pakistan ties
get somewhat strained as Pakistan under
the Shehbaz Sharif government is now
actively making an all-out effort to boost
relations with the US? China's concerns
are rising as Islamabad intensifies its
dialogues with Washington, the largest
shareholder of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). Pakistan is
expecting the IMF to extend a bailout
package by the end of this month.
Pakistan's military chief, Gen. Qamar
Javed Bajwa has sought the US' support
in securing the IMF loan. In fact, Bajwa,
last week even spoke to Deputy US
Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on
the issue. Not just that. Within days of
taking charge as Pakistan's Finance
Minister, Miftah Ismail paid an official
visit to Washington.
If the reports about Pakistan asking
help from Washington are true, it raises
concerns that the US might take the
opportunity to exert political pressure on
Pakistan, Beijing based news organisation
Global Times said. "For a long time,
the US and its allies have been intensifying
political pressuring on developing
countries like Pakistan, causing a new
economic dilemma for them," it added.
The IMF, among its many demands,
asked Pakistan to renegotiate the deals
Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi in a condolence
message said, "The nation will always be
indebted and grateful for his devotion of duty
and supreme sacrifice for sovereignty and
integrity of the nation." He said, "In this hour
of enormous grief, I pray to the Almighty to
rest his soul in eternal peace and give his family
strength to bear this irreparable loss."
China rattled as Pakistan
moves closer to US
under the China Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC). According to reports,
the multilateral lender has also asked
Pakistan not to borrow more from China.
"It is important to note which way the
country's military is tilted, what position
Bajwa holds is more critical for any
decision of these kinds," Abhijnan Rej,
researcher and consultant focusing on
Asian security and geopolitics told India
Narrative.
Rej also said that the going between
China and Pakistan has not been "very
smooth" in the recent past. "Though
openly, the two have been reiterating
their commitments to support each other,
BRITISH ECONOMY
CONTRACTS IN Q2,
stokes recession fears
London : The British
economy contracted in the
last three months, further
stoking fears that a recession
might be around the corner,
new data revealed on Friday.
The gross domestic product
(GDP) fell by 0.1 per cent
during the second quarter,
dpa news agency quoted the
Office for National Statistics
(ONS) as saying.
It is a big step down from
the first quarter of the year,
when GDP rose 0.8 per cent.
The service sector was particularly
badly hit, falling by
0.4 per cent over the quarter,
ONS experts said.
A large part of this was in
health and social work, and
came as less money was spent and June showing a notable tough quarter. These were
on the fight against Covid-19. fall, overall the economy partially offset by growth in
The GDP fell 0.6 per cent shrank slightly in the second hotels, bars, hairdressers and
in June, and the ONS revised quarter.
outdoor events across the
its May estimate from growth "Health was the biggest quarter, partly as a result of
of 0.5 per cent to just 0.4 per reason the economy contracted
as both the test and trace Platinum Jubilee."
people celebrating the
cent. ONS director of economic
statistics Darren and vaccine programmes The Bank of England has
Morgan said: "With May's were wound down, while warned that Britain might
growth revised down a little many retailers also had a enter recession later this year.
things are not the same as they were in
the past," Rej said, adding that the delay
in the execution of the CPEC project has
also led to straining of ties.
Pakistan, which has been placed on
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
grey list in June 2018, is also trying to
get out of it. An independent think tank
in Pakistan Tabadlab earlier estimated an
economic loss of a whopping $38 billion
for the country on account of the FATF
grey list.
Pakistan also provides a platform to
the US to make a comeback in the region
after its messy exit from Afghanistan a
year ago. A detailed report published by
India Narrative on August 9 noted that
from a geopolitical perspective, the
Americans have been virtually thrown
out of Central Asia, creating a power
vacuum which regional powers are
jostling to fill. "Washington is now
attempting to claw back a foothold in
AfPak, presumably with the active support
of Pakistan, their old partners in
crime," the report said.
Under Pakistan's former prime minister
Imran Khan, ties with Washington
had nosedived as his sole focus was on
China. But the cash strapped South
Asian nation is now aggressively trying
to mend relations with the US.
Assam CM urges Aamir Khan
to postpone his visit to state
Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
has urged Bollywood actor Aamir Khan who expressed his
willingness to visit the state on the eve of Independence Day
to plan the trip after the conclusion of 'Har Ghar Tiranga' celebrations.
"Aamir Khan spoke to me and he intended to
come to Assam during the Independence Day celebration.
But it may shift focus from Azadi Ka Amrit Mohatsav...
hence I told him to fix a date after August 15," Sarma told
the mediapersons here on Friday.
The Chief Minister, however, said that he has good terms
with Khan and they often speak over the telephone.
Though the intent to visit Assam is unknown, sources said
Khan wanted to promote his latest release 'Laal Singh
Chaddha', which is a remake of the iconic film 'Forrest
Gump'. It could not be known if the actor has agreed to come
to Assam after Independence Day.
Khan's latest film has been embroiled in controversy for
the last few days. Some sections were calling for a boycott
of the film claiming that the Aamir Khan-starrer was disrespectful
towards the Indian Army.
Notably, Khan had earlier extended a helping hand to the
flood-affected people of Assam by making a contribution of
Rs 25 lakh towards the CM Relief Fund.
Sarma then took to Twitter to thank the Bollywood actor.