The diplomatic games between India, China and Pakistan were in full play in Astana on Friday, as both India and Pakistan became members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
While Chinese President Xi Jinping started the day by telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he “liked” the Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, sources said he did not raise the One Belt One Road (OBOR) issue — India boycotted the summit in Beijing last month.
At the summit, the leaders articulated their views, consistent with their stated diplomatic objectives.
Pushing for OBOR, Xi sought deepening of “practical cooperation” and said the SCO may well serve as an “important platform” for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Source: Indian Express
Five militants were killed in north Kashmir’s Uri sector while trying to infiltrate into India, the Army said on Friday.
It was the latest infiltration attempt to the restive valley and at least 12 militants have been killed by Indian soldiers since Wednesday.
Thirty nine militants who tried to enter India have been killed this year, the Army said. The Army’s northern command said on Thursday that it has been tackling multiple infiltration bids along the line of control (LoC) in north Kashmir.
Source: Hindustan Times
The farmers' agitation in MP, and before that in Maharashtra, has pushed a simmering agrarian crisis into the spotlight.
Yet why are farmers – the lifeline of India – angry and resentful? One of the key factors fuelling agrarian anger is that good year or bad year, they are unable to earn enough.
In several states, for several widely cultivated produce like paddy and wheat, prices at which farmers are selling their harvest are actually lower than what they spent in cultivating the crop.
In Madhya Pradesh, the epicentre of current agitation, paddy was fetching 15 per cent less than cost of production while wheat was giving them just 2 per cent profit.
Source: The Times of India
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the validity of linking Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number (PAN). However, it exempted those who do not have Aadhaar from mandatorily getting one till it decides on whether it is a violation of privacy.
The court issued a “partial stay” on the implementation of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, which makes the possession of Aadhaar card necessary on or after 1 July, 2017 for the continuing validity of an existing PAN and filing income tax returns.
A Bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan exempted citizens without Aadhaar card from the ambit of Section 139AA.
The court also exempted those who have enrolled for Aadhaar but not got hold of one from the provision’s ambit.
Source: The Hindu
The BJP-led government’s handling of the ongoing farmers’ unrest and job cuts has earned the criticism of not just the Opposition, but from the offshoots of its ideological mentor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The labour and the farmer’s wing of the RSS, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) have blamed the government for failing to stem farm and services sectors crises and for allowing the government think tank NITI Aayog to steer policy towards reliance on foreign direct investment.
The BKS has cautioned the government that unless quick measures such as minimum support price are offered, the agrarian crisis would worsen.
Source: Hindustan Times
The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging a Madras high court decision to stay declaration of results of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which was taken by 11.38 lakh students for admission to MBBS and BDS courses.
Additional solicitor general Maninder Singh sought an urgent hearing on the CBSE's appeal and said delay in declaration of NEET results would not only create anxiety among a vast section of the student community, but would also put in jeopardy timely completion of admissions to undergraduate courses in government and private medical colleges, the time schedule for which has been fixed by the apex court.
Source: The Times of India
Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asked India’s voters to throw the BJP out of power if the government fails to double farmers’ income by 2022, a statement which came amid a violent agitation by agriculturists in Madhya Pradesh.
He said farmers comprise more than 50 percent of India’s population and unless they prosper the country cannot become prosperous.
Source: Hindustan Times
Shangwang Shangyung Khaplang, the head of the hardline National Socialist Council of Nagalim faction opposed to ongoing peace talks with India, passed away at a hospital in the insurgent group’s military base at Takka, in Myanmar’s Kachin state on Friday, sources in the organisation said.
Indian government sources said the ailing insurgent leader had died of diabetes-related complications.
Even as members of the rival Thuingaleng Muivah-led NSCN is engaged in talks with New Delhi, Khaplang’s forces have continued to wage war with Indian troops. Earlier this week, a clash at Tijit, near Lappa in Mon district in Nagaland, claimed the lives of Indian Army officer Major David Manlum, and three NSCN-Khaplang insurgents.
Source: Indian Express
The intelligence and criminal investigation wing of the income tax (I-T) department in Kochi has unearthed unaccounted for wealth worth Rs 400 crore from a firm owned by a former additional superintendent of police in Nagaland who has also been awarded the President's police medal.
Officials said Pillai will be questioned in this regard.
Simultaneous raids were conducted in Kerala, Karnataka, Nagaland and Delhi after doubts emerged that Pillai's Sreevalasam Group was involved in "suspicious financial dealings".
Source: The Times of India
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