NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||22nd APRIL2026

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||22^nd APRIL2026

WEDNESDAY| VOL—V/2026/APRIL

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

"अहिंसा परमो धर्मः, धर्म हिंसा तथैव च"||

Lord Krishna advises Arjuna that righteous violence (Dharma-Yuddha) is necessary for the protection of justice.

With broken heart, I share my grief  with all living relatives of the victims on this first anniversary of ‘PAHELGAON MASSACRE’—ॐ तत् सत् |

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

Campaigning for assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and for first phase in West Bengal ends; Voting on Thursday.  The second phase of polling in West Bengal will be conducted on the 29th of April.  Counting of votes for all polling States and Union Territories will take place on the 4th of May.

The Indian Army yesterday asserted its resolve to fight against terrorism on the eve of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack. On 22nd of April last year, terrorists killed 26 innocent people, mostly tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

The dastardly act shook the nation and drew condemnation from governments and leaders across the world. In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian Armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of 6th and 7th of May last year.

On the 27th April, 2026 India and New Zealand are set to sign the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The agreement also aims to strengthen the economic ties, boost exports and will attract nearly $20 billion in investment over 15 years.

IRAN WAR:(Tehran Times, Israel Times, Washington Post, Al-Jazeera)

IRAN:

Trump told Bloomberg yesterday that he believed US- IRAN TRUCE expires “Wednesday evening Washington time”—slightly extending the window for talks.

Trump says the United States is extending ⁠its ⁠ceasefire with Iran at mediator Pakistan’s request to allow more time for Tehran to put forward its proposal. But Iran said they haven’t received any such proposal.

Iran is yet to formally respond to the US president’s announcement about the extension of the ceasefire. Iran already set a key precondition for entering talks, insisting that the blockade on its ports must be lifted before any negotiations can begin.

Nevertheless, unnamed Iranian officials told the New York Times that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf would attend talks in Pakistan if U.S. Vice President JD Vance did too.

Iran’s military says it would immediately strike “pre-designated targets” if the US launches any new attack. The warning came from Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command, following what he described as repeated threats by US President Trump and military commanders. “Our capable and powerful forces have long been in a state of 100 percent readiness and are ready and on the trigger,” Zolfaghari said.

Trump also said he had directed US forces to continue to blockade Iranian ports. Iranian officials have previously said they would not negotiate while the US blockade continues.

LEBANON:

A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed yesterday that Israel-Lebanon peace negotiations will occur on Thursday in Washington.

Lebanon’s delegation in separate talks with Israel will be led by the country’s former U.S. ambassador, Simon Karam, President Joseph Aoun said. Israel will be represented by its ambassador to the United States, an unnamed U.S. official told the Times of Israel

The French president has shared a post on social media voicing support for Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the people of Lebanon, while calling on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, and for Hezbollah to cease attacking Israel.

There is currently a temporary 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon, however Israeli forces have remained in southern Lebanon, where the creation of a “Yellow Line” similar to military zones seen in Gaza cast doubt on the agreement.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the US will continue to “apply maximum pressure” to “systematically degrade” Iran’s ability to generate, move and repatriate funds. “Any person or vessel facilitating these flows—through covert trade and finance—risks exposure to U.S. sanctions,” he wrote in a social media post.

GCC-A NEW SECURITY PARADOX:

Gulf states must now confront a paradox: They are reliant on the United States for security, and there is no good alternative. At the same time, the actions the United States and Israel have taken in this war introduce new security issues for Gulf states. There are two main scenarios going forward:

The cease-fire holds: In this scenario, the United States and Iran reach a framework deal addressing discrete issues, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz. This could potentially extend the cease-fire and lead to more comprehensive negotiations.

The cease-fire breaks down: If the United States and Iran fail to reach a deal, this could result in escalation, such as more attacks on the GCC or strikes on Iran’s energy facilities.

No matter which scenario occurs, Gulf Arab states now face a vast landscape of new security and economic challenges. 

What will the Gulf Arab states do?

They will push to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is not controlled by Iran.

WORLD: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

South Korea-India formed their first ministerial-level economic cooperation committee as part of efforts to double bilateral trade by 2030, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said yesterday during a visit to India.

 Japan lifted arms export restrictions today so that sales of any kind of defense equipment could become possible “in principle,” Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced on social media.

 Renewable energy supplied more of the world’s electricity than coal last year for the first time in more than a century, according to a new report from think tank Ember. The report found that Asia was the only region in the world where renewable generation had yet to overtake coal in 2025, though fossil fuel generation fell in both China and India.

Repairs are being tested today on the Druzhba pipeline after damage to it sparked a dispute between Ukraine and Hungary, unnamed sources told Bloomberg. The pipeline was damaged by Russia airstrikes in January, and Hungary subsequently claimed Ukraine was delaying repairs. Budapest has signaled it will lift its veto on European Union (EU) aid to Kyiv once the pipeline is repaired.

USA Rare Earths—a firm partially owned by the U.S. Commerce Department—announced plans yesterday to buy a Brazilian rare earth mining and processing company in a deal valued at $2.8 billion. The Brazilian firm, Serra Verde, is expected to account for nearly half of all heavy rare earths outside of China by 2027, USA Rare Earth said.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te cancelled a visit to Eswatini this week after Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles revoked permission for his plane to fly through their airspace due to Chinese pressure, a senior official from Lai’s office said today.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for an explanation yesterday after the U.S. Embassy said two of its officials died returning from a joint anti-drug operation with Mexican officials in Chihuahua state. Four officials died in a car crash. Sheinbaum said she had not been informed of any joint operation, which is required by Mexican federal law.   

MISHAPS:

In Keralam, seven people were killed and several others injured in a blast at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathikkode in central Thrissur district yesterday. Modi also announced an ex-gratia of 2 lakh rupees from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of deceased and 50 thousand rupees to the injured.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

Vaccine Skepticism Has Risen in the U.S.—And in Many Other Countries. Since 2015, trust in vaccine safety has declined in most countries surveyed by the Vaccine Confidence Project, a research group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine that monitors global trust in immunization programs.

Performing a type of experiment never before tried beyond Earth, NASA's Curiosity rover has identified more organic compounds on Mars as scientists strive to learn whether the Red Planet ever harbored ​life.

Five of the seven diverse organic compounds confirmed by the six-wheeled rover in rock that formed in a dried lakebed near the planet's equator ‌had never previously been identified on Mars, the researchers said. The experiment also hinted at the presence of another organic compound that bears a structure similar to precursors to DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms on our planet.

CLIMATE:

 IMD Hyderabad has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across most Telangana districts for the next 48 hours. The weather pattern of hot days followed by evening storms is expected to continue until April 27.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heatwave conditions over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, East Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha for next two days.

ENVIRONMENT:

*22 April- World Earth Day*

This day is observed every year on 22 April to mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. In the Universe Earth is most likely the only planet where life is possible and so it is necessary to maintain this natural asset. World Earth Day is celebrated to increase awareness about the importance of the planet.

Ahmedabad based Kankaria Railway Coaching Depot has emerged as the ‘water neutral’ railway depot which has redefining how the traditional railway operations can align with environmental goals. This depot is saving nearly 1.60 lakh liters of water daily.

GAMES & SPORTS: -

The semi-final match of the Under-19 India-Nepal Deaf Cricket Tournament, organized by the Jharkhand Deaf Cricket Association, was played yesterday on the second day at Jiyalgoda Stadium in Dhanbad. Nepal batted first and scored 105 runs, while the Indian team successfully chased the target with eight wickets in hand. With this win, India secured a place in the final

DAS KAPITAL:

Indian Share Market: -

 *BSE SENSEX* 79,273.33 +753.03 (0.96%)🌲

 *NIFTY* 24,576.60 +211.75 (0.87%)🌲

BULLIONS:

 *GOLD* : ₹ 15,700/ 01gm (24 krt)

 *SILVER* : ₹ 2,75,000/KG

Currency Exchange Rates:

*Euro* : ₹107/-*USD*  ₹ 92/-  *China¥* : ₹ 13/-

WHAT IS NEXT:

Today, Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh attends a Senate hearing in Washington, DC.

Today, UN secretary-general candidates begin presenting their agendas for the institution in New York.

Today, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte begins a visit to Turkey.

Tomorrow, the Delphi Economic Forum begins in Greece.

 

 

 

THE END.