Terror Attack and International Diplomacy: A Week in Review

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I am Ichha SHarma
Today is the 25 th of April and here are the headlines

At least 25 tourists and a Valley resident were shot dead on Tuesday at a meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in the deadliest terror attack on civilians in the country since the Mumbai 26/11 shootings. On Wednesday, India put on hold the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan, expelled diplomats and top defence officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, cancelled all visas granted to Pakistan nationals and directed them to leave the country in 48 hours, and shut the Attari-Wagah border after Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Meanwhile, yesterday Islamabad said it “shall exercise the right to hold all bilateral agreements with India, including but not limited to the Simla Agreement, in abeyance.” The reaction from Pakistan came after the country’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee. 

In the first high-level visit from the White House since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January, US Vice-President J D Vance met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and both sides “welcomed the significant progress” in negotiations towards a India-US bilateral trade pact, framing it as a “new and modern trade agreement.” Vance on Tuesday praised India’s heritage and strategic partnership with the US, saying, “I believe there is much that the US and India can accomplish together.” Speaking in Jaipur, he noted that both nations are working toward a bilateral trade agreement based on shared priorities. Referring to past policies, Vance said, “We are not here to preach,” and highlighted President Trump’s vision to “rebalance global trade” and “build a bright new world” with partners like India.

Pope Francis passed away after prolonged illness in Rome today, the Vatican confirmed in a video statement. Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo announced, quote  “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” unquote.  Pope Francis was hospitalised on 14th February, following complications from bronchitis and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia four days later. He spent over a month in medical care before returning to his residence to continue his recovery.

After the recent Supreme Court order which annulled the appointments of over 25,000 West Bengal school staff but said that “untainted” teachers could remain in service until 31st of December this year, confusion had remained as to who the “untainted” teachers are. Now, a district-wise list of “untainted” teachers of Classes IX-X and XI-XII has reached the offices of District Inspectors (DIs) of schools. A verification process has begun. The SC had found that the 2016 recruitment process by the SSC was “tainted”. School headmasters have been asked to submit a list of their teachers’ names, designations, subjects they teach, transfer histories, and confirmations that the names are in the “untainted” list.

A wildfire in New Jersey has forced residents to evacuate the area and shut down a stretch of a major highway on Tuesday as the wildfire grew to more than 3,200 acres, officials said. One of the busiest highways in New Jersey, the Garden State Parkway, saw closures due to the spread of wildfire and the stretch between Barnegat and Lacey townships was closed and the traffic was diverted, Associated Press reported. According to New Jersey Forest Fire Service, over 3,000 residents have been evacuated from the area of the Jones Road Fire in Ocean County and about 1,320 structures remain threatened. The fire service added that 5% of the wildfire has been contained till now.