NATIONAL
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Oil tanker capsize off Oman: Eight Indian crew members rescued by Indian Navy
- The Indian Navy warship INS Teg assisting in search and rescue for the capsized Comoros-flagged Oil Tanker MV Prestige Falcớn, has rescued nine crew — eight Indians and one Sri Lankan. The tanker has a 16-member crew, which includes 13 Indians and three Sri Lankans, according to the Maritime Security Centre (MSC) of Oman.
- The vessel had capsized about 25 NM southeast of Ras Madrakah, Oman on July 15 and SAR efforts in coordination with Oman Authorities have been in progress since morning of July 16.
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Mazagon, Garden Reach Shipbuilders lead race for Defence Ministry's ₹70,000 crore warships order
- The defence ministry is set to clear a mega ₹70,000 crore order for new warships for the Indian Navy. The stealth frigates will be the most advanced ships to be built in India and are a follow-on of the Nilgiri class that are currently under construction. Sources said that state-run yards - Mazagon Dockyards Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) - are the frontrunners for the order that is classified as Project 17B.
- The two yards are currently constructing frigates under Project 17A (Nilgiri class). MDL is making four of the frigates while GRSE is executing an order for three.
- While details will emerge after the defence ministry clears the project, there is a possibility that it could be split between the two yards, as was the case for Project 17A. A split order helps shorten delivery timelines for the Navy.
INTERNATIONAL
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China-Tibet back channel talks ongoing with the help of a ‘third country’
- The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has been holding back-channel talks with Chinese authorities “through a third country”, President of the CTA said. Speaking to a select group of media, Mr. Tsering, who is set to visit the United States after the enactment of the Resolve Tibet Act in the Congress, said the CTA will counter the renaming of Tibetan territories by Chinese authorities by creating a map of Tibet that will carry the names of all the places of Tibet in Tibetan language.
- “We have been having back-channel negotiation with the Chinese side. We do not have any expectation from these talks but we have to keep the engagements going as these are part of our long term plans. We met in the first week of this month and the talks are being held with the help of a third country,” said Sikyong Tsering without explaining the level of the officers who are involved in these talks.
- He further explained that the back-channel talks were started with the initiative from the Chinese side.
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North Korean landmines could float into South Korea’
- North Korean landmines could be swept into South Korea by flooding, South Korea's military warned on July 17, after the North has recently placed tens of thousands of additional deadly explosives along the rivals' heavily fortified border.
- North Korea's minelaying is part of construction at the border that's been going on since April, which also includes adding anti-tank barriers and reinforcing roads. South Korea officials believe North Korea aims to boost its frontline security posture and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea.
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China says halted nuclear arms talks with US over Taiwan weapons sales
- China said it had suspended negotiations with the United States on nuclear non-proliferation and arms control in response to Washington's weapons sales to Taiwan -- a move the State Department called "unfortunate."
- The US and China in November held rare talks on nuclear arms control, part of a bid to ease mistrust ahead of a summit between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping.Further dialogue had not been publicly announced since, with a White House official in January urging Beijing to respond "to some of our more substantive ideas on risk reduction."
SPORTS
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Tour de France Stage 17
- Ecuador's Richard Carapaz won Stage 17 of the Tour de France.
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APC appoints Deepa as representative for South Asia
- India's first woman Paralympic medallist Deepa Malik has been named sub regional representative for South Asia by the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).
