1. IAF Plane Shot Down, Pilot Taken Captive by Pak Army
An Indian pilot was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday, 27 February, after a major aerial confrontation and chase between Pakistan Air Force planes, which dropped bombs in four locations of Jammu and Kashmir, and Indian Air Force jets that countered them over the Line of Control (LoC).
The confrontation began after Pakistan sent several aircraft to the LoC on Wednesday morning in retaliation for the Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Balakot a day earlier.
The government said IAF jets shot down an F-16 jet of the PAF in the skirmish, and the wreckage had fallen on the Pakistan side. Pakistan’s military, however, denied the loss of any aircraft.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman began to chase the Pakistani jets to push them back, when he had to eject over the LoC after the MiG-21 he was flying was shot by a Pakistani plane. He landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where he was taken into custody.
(Source:The Hindu)
2. International Diplomatic Chorus: India, Pakistan Should De-escalate Now
As Pakistan targeted India’s military installations on Wednesday, 27 February, in a retaliatory response to Delhi’s “non-military and pre-emptive action,” the P-5 countries, the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, called upon both to “de-escalate” or exercise “restraint”.
These were reflected in their individual statements, even as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers and spoke to US Secretary of State and British Foreign Secretary Wednesday.
The US and EU asked Pakistan to take action against terrorist groups after France and Australia had done the same on Tuesday. 26 February. While France, UK and US on Wednesday called for “de-escalation” in their statements, Russia and China asked for exercising “restraint”.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Imran to India: With Our Weapons Can’t Afford Miscalculation, Let’s Talk
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, 27 February, called for talks with India to defuse tensions and offered cooperation in the investigation into the February 14 Pulwama terror attack.
In a televised address, he also warned against further escalation of the situation. “With the kind of weapons we have, can we afford any miscalculation? Should we not think about the consequences of an escalation at this point in time? If it escalates, it will neither be in my control nor [Indian PM Narendra] Modi’s. This is why I am inviting you again: we are ready to cooperate in the Pulwama investigation, dialogue on terrorism. We should resolve our issues through dialogue.”
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Six IAF Officers, Civilian Killed In Chopper Crash In J&K's Budgam
Six Air Force officers and a civilian were killed after an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam on Wednesday morning, a senior police officer told NDTV.
The crash took place in the backdrop of heavy shelling and firing from across the border on a day IAF fighter jets crossed the Line of Control and destroyed a vast terror camp within Pakistan in a pre-dawn strike on Tuesday.
(Source: NDTV)
5. Nepal’s Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari Killed In Helicopter Crash
All seven on board the helicopter carrying tourism minister Rabindra Adhikari have been killed in the crash near Pathibhara in Taplejung district, confirms Air Dynasty official.
Pratap Babu Tiwari, the spokesperson for Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, confirmed that all seven on board the helicopter have been killed in the crash.
The crashed occurred when Adhikari’s team was returning to Kathmandu after offering worship at Pathibhara temple.
Traveling with Minister Adhikari were the pilot of the helicopter Captain Prabhakar KC, tourism entrepreneur Ang Chhiring Sherpa, security personnel Arjun Ghimire, Prime Minister’s close aide Yubaraj Dahal, Deputy Director General of CAAN Birendra Shrestha, and CAAN Engineer Dhruba Das Bhochhibhaya.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. Maharashtra Tells HC, States Can Breach 50% Quota Limit
Senior counsel V A Thorat, appearing for the Maharashtra state government, justified the 16 percent Maratha reservations brought in last year as he argued on Wednesday, 27 February, that it excluded the creamy layer of the community, allowing the benefits to percolate to the targeted section.
Thorat and Mukul Rohatgi, former attorney general, were appearing for the state, which began its submissions in support of the law enacted last year to create an additional 16 percent reservation in the state for Marathas as a Socially and Educational Backward Class.
Rohatgi with former additional solicitor general P S Patwalia and the chief standing counsel of the state in the Supreme Court, Nishant Katneshwarkar, argued that the power of the state to exceed the 50 percent limit in quotas exists in extraordinary circumstances. He read from the Indra Sawhney judgment to show that the 50% bar could be breached.
(Source: The Times of India)
7. SC Dismisses Govt Plea to Review Faculty Quota
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 27 February, refused to re-examine its verdict which held that reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs for appointment as teachers in universities and colleges should be decided with regard to departments and subjects rather than treating the institution as a unit .
A bench of Justices U U Lalit and Indira Banerjee dismissed review petitions filed by the Centre and University Grants Commission and said there was no error in the verdict and it didn't require reconsideration.
The court had on 22 January upheld the Allahabad high court order which had ruled that reservation should be granted department/subject wise.
(Source: The Times of India)
8. China May Ban ‘Rogue’ Scientists Post Gene-Editing Uproar
China has drafted new rules to supervise biotechnology research, with fines and bans against rogue scientists after a Chinese researcher caused a global outcry by claiming that he gene-edited babies.
The announcement comes as He Jiankui's controversial experiment continues to transfix the scientific community, with researchers saying the procedure had the potential of enhancing the learning capabilities and memory of the babies.
He announced in November that the world's first gene-edited babies – twin girls – were born that same month after he altered their DNA to prevent them from contracting HIV by deleting a certain gene under a technique known as CRISPR.
The claim shocked scientists worldwide, raising questions about bioethics and putting a spotlight on China's lax oversight of scientific research.
(Source: NDTV)
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