Srinagar, IndiaIndian authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have seized a balloon adorned with the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) logo in the Poonch district, marking yet another peculiar border-related incident in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the balloon, featuring the name, logo, and livery colors of Pakistan’s national flag-carrier, was discovered in the Tain Mankote area of the Mendhar sector in Poonch district by the Indian Army. The authorities have stated that the balloon is currently in the possession of the Army for necessary assessment.
This incident is part of a series of unusual occurrences involving objects and animals in border areas. In 2015, a pigeon was detained by Indian forces for crossing the border into the Pathankot area. More recently, in May of last year, the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) claimed to have captured a Pakistani spy pigeon and handed it over to police in occupied Kashmir. The pigeon’s Pakistani owner later denied any allegations of espionage.
These incidents have often been met with media attention and public humor, sometimes leading to criticism of the Indian media’s portrayal of border security issues.
Islamabad, The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) hosted a capacity-building workshop for journalists at its head office, focusing on key aspects of equity trading and market surveillance in the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
According to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the workshop aimed to enhance public awareness and understanding of the capital markets. The SECP team provided in-depth insights into the role of the stock exchange in capital formation, financial inclusion, and investment diversification. Participants were briefed on the trading, clearing, settlement, and custodial functions of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the National Clearing Company, and the Central Depository Company of Pakistan Limited, collectively known as Capital Market Infrastructure Institutions (CMIIs).
The event also covered the digital online account opening process through the Centralized Gateway Portal (CGP), highlighting its convenience for retail investors across various financial intermediaries. The SECP’s efforts to simplify account opening procedures with multiple financial intermediaries were also detailed.
Furthermore, the workshop addressed market surveillance, educating participants on different types of market abuse, such as insider trading and market manipulation. SECP and Pakistan Stock Exchange’s surveillance tools were discussed, and case studies were presented to enhance understanding of these issues.
The presentation on systemic risk focused on various risk indicators and their role as early warning signals for potential market disruptions. The session concluded with a vibrant question and answer segment, underscoring the importance of regular communication between regulators and the media for effective regulation and responsible reporting.
This initiative by the SECP represents a significant step in strengthening media understanding of complex financial markets and fostering informed journalism in this sector.
New Delhi, The descendants of the Maratha Empire, once the rulers of a vast kingdom in the 17th and 18th centuries, are now demanding inclusion in India’s Other Backward Class (OBC) category under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this demand highlights a stark contrast to the Maratha Empire’s historical prominence and power. Critics of the Modi government view this development as a significant critique of the ‘Shining India’ mantra often promoted by the current administration. The Maratha Empire, renowned for its warriors, administrators, and nobility, has seen its descendants experiencing severe socio-economic challenges, leading to their demand for OBC status.
The Maratha community, primarily found in Maharashtra and known for their Marathi-speaking warrior background, gained political prominence under Shivaji’s leadership. However, their decline began with the defeat by the English East India Company in 1818, followed by struggles under British rule. The British policies suppressed the Marathas, undermining their influence and hindering their participation in political and economic spheres.
Post-independence, the community’s situation didn’t improve significantly, with their plight worsening under BJP rule. The Marathas are facing a lack of fair representation in government jobs and access to technical and professional education institutions. The past year has been particularly challenging for the community, with 12 reported suicides due to financial burdens and poverty.
This situation underscores the need for addressing the Marathas’ grievances to prevent further decline and despair within the community, highlighting a critical aspect of India’s socio-political landscape.
Geneva, In a sharp critique of Russia’s crackdown on free speech, a United Nations expert has condemned the recent imprisonment of two poets in Moscow for their participation in an anti-war poetry reading. The poets, Artyom Kamardin and Yegor Shtovba, were jailed for reciting poems against the war on Ukraine, highlighting growing concerns about the suppression of artistic and free expression in Russia.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mariana Katzarova, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, expressed alarm over the use of Russia’s legal system to stifle dissent. The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow sentenced Kamardin to seven years and Shtovba to five and a half years in prison following their participation in the “Mayakovsky Readings,” a public anti-war poetry event held in Moscow on 25 September 2022. Katzarova emphasized that this decision violates international standards for the protection of freedom of expression.
The poets faced criminal charges under Russia’s national security legislation for “inciting hatred or enmity or humiliating the dignity of a person or a group of persons, committed by an organized group” and “calling for actions aimed against State security”. Kamardin also alleged severe torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officials following his arrest, claims that were not investigated by the Preobrazhensky District Investigative Committee in Moscow.
Katzarova warned that the nature of the charges, the severity of the sentences, and the conduct of the trial, which included testimony from a “secret witness,” serve as a stark message to Russian society about the consequences of dissent. She described such trials as tools of intimidation used to instill fear and discourage anti-war expression. The Special Rapporteur called for the immediate release of Kamardin and Shtovba and urged Russian authorities to investigate the allegations of torture and provide effective remedies against the violations of their human rights.
This incident is part of a broader clampdown on dissenting voices and peaceful anti-war expression in Russia, as documented in Katzarova’s report to the Human Rights Council in September 2023.