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1. Pakistan Using Shrine Donations to Fund Terrorism in India
Intelligence agencies of Rajasthan Police have found that ISI handlers allegedly set up donation boxes at places of worship, and use the money donated by devotees to fund terrorist activities in the border villages of the state.
The sleuths unearthed the funding network while interrogating ISI spy Deena Khan, who was arrested last week from a remote village in Barmer district.
Khan revealed that he was in-charge of a small Mazar in Chohtan village of Barmer district and distributed Rs 3.5 lakh of Mazar’s donation to other spies like Satram Maheswari and his nephew Vinod Maheswari.Senior Officer, State Intelligence and Security Wing
The officer added that Deena's handlers in Pakistan would call him over phone, and ask him to distribute fund accordingly.
Police suspect that ISI may have set up several such donation boxes at multiple locations in border areas to fund its espionage activities.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Nephew of SP Leader Abu Asim Azmi Held in Mumbai for 'Running' Drug Racket
The nephew of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi and three more men were arrested in Mumbai and the national capital for allegedly running an international drug racket, police said on Wednesday.
The Delhi Police special cell, which ran the operation from Sunday to Tuesday, seized 5kg of the party drug MDMA, also known as ICE, worth Rs 40 crore in the capital.
The seized drug was to be smuggled to the US and UK in parcels of different clients of a courier company in Delhi.Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell)
The 43-year-old Aslam was caught in a luxury hotel in Mumbai’s Santa Cruz on Tuesday. He allegedly ran the cartel from the hotel room.
Aslam is a key accomplice of kingpin Kailash Rajput and looks after the network in India. Till 2008, Aslam worked as a cargo officer in a Dubai-based company. He returned and worked in another company in Goa till 2013.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
3. Standoff Over Rates: RBI Panel Said No to Meeting With Finance Before Review
The government and the Reserve Bank of India squared off Wednesday on the issue of lowering interest rates. Hours after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the rates on hold, the Finance Ministry made it clear that there was a strong case for substantial easing of rates.
The statement by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian came after RBI Governor Urjit Patel said that members of the MPC – the interest rate setting committee – unanimously declined to meet the Finance Ministry panel for discussions on the monetary policy a week before the monetary policy review.
The meeting did not take place. All MPC members declined the request of the Finance Ministry for that meeting.
Subramanian, Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal and the Economic Affairs Secretary were to meet the MPC members to present the government’s viewpoint on the state of the economy.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. MP Farmers’ Protest: CM Announces New Fund; AAP to Visit Mandsaur
The Madhya Pradesh farmer’s agitation demanding loan waivers and higher crop prices spread to large parts of the state on Wednesday. Protesters torched vehicles, targeted police stations and attacked government officials.
All this happened a day after five farmers were killed in police firing in Mandsaur. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a new fund for the farmers, after announcing that the families of the deceased will receive Rs 1 crore each.
The CM has also appealed for peace, saying that the government will implement the demands of the farmers.
The Centre rushed five battalions of paramilitary forces to control the situation in the state. Mobile internet services were suspended and a curfew was imposed in the district.
Read the full story on The Quint.
5. ICSE to Hold Board Exams for Class 5 and 8 Students From 2018
Class 5 and 8 students of the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) will have to face board examinations from 2018, council CEO Gerry Arathoon said in Kolkata on Wednesday.
However, there will be no pass-fail tags, Arathoon added.
It will be just a periodical evaluation exercise to have an idea on the progress of the students’ learning after a particular level.
He told a press conference the board has decided to introduce three compulsory subjects – Sanskrit, yoga and performing arts. Yoga and performing arts will be compulsory between classes 1 and 8. Sanskrit will be taught in classes 5 to 8.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. QS World University Rankings 2018: IIT-Bombay Ranks 179 – a 40-Place Jump
The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay has for the first time made it to the list of the world’s top 200 universities, according to the just-released QS World University Rankings 2018.
In the rankings announced on Wednesday, IIT-B has jumped from its position of 219 last year to 179, joining IIT Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in the league of the top 200 institutes of the world.
While IIT Delhi has moved up from last year’s 185th rank to 172nd this time, the IISc has climbed up 38 places from 190th last year to occupy the 152nd spot. It is the first time in over a decade that three of the country’s universities have made it to the top 200.
The improved ranking is a reflection of the continuous improvement of the quality of education and research at IIT Bombay.Devang Khakhar, Director, IIT-B
(Source: Indian Express)
7. India to Join SCO in Astana
India says it is willing to join hands with Pakistan and China to combat terrorism.
Announcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s weekend visit to Astana, Kazakhstan, where India will be admitted as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the External Affairs Ministry said the fight against terrorism was “incumbent” on all.
We are going to Astana to become full member [of SCO], and we know the obligations and functions of the member states.Gopal Baglay, MEA Spokesperson
Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay explained that counter-terror collaboration with members of the SCO, such as China and Pakistan, was also a possibility.
“We participate with many countries, including Pakistan, in the UN peacekeeping operations, and terrorism is a fight which is incumbent on all countries,” Mr Baglay said.
(Source: The Hindu)
8. Swine Flu: Death Toll Climbs to 230 in Maharashtra; Pune Worst Hit
Deaths due to swine flu have touched 230 in Maharashtra this year, an almost nine-fold increase to 26 deaths reported during entire 2016, indicating more virulent nature of the infecting virus in the state.
According to state epidemiologist Dr Pradeep Awate, the viral infection is less dominant in Konkan region and coastal areas including Mumbai, while it has shown greater incidence in Pune urban and rural regions.
Pune has recorded the highest deaths at 60 followed by Nashik with 31 deaths so far in 2017.
In Mumbai, four deaths of residents have been reported while three others from outside the city died in the city’s civic hospital during treatment. State officials said the cases were expected to decline with the advent of monsoon. In June first week, cases recorded from across Maharashtra have dipped in comparison to May last week.
Across the state, 1,202 cases of H1N1 influenza have been noted.
(Source: Indian Express)
9. India to Get Next President on 20 July, Announces EC
India will have a new President on 20 July. The Election Commission sounded the gong on Wednesday on the electoral process, which will be notified on 14 June. Nominations of candidates will close on 28 June.
The EC's announcement is expected to quicken consultations in the NDA and opposition camps over their respective nominees for the post.
Both sides have begun discussions, but are yet to decide their candidates even though the numbers in the electoral college decisively favour BJP.
With President Pranab Mukherjee's term ending on 24 July, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said voting for the presidential election will be held on 17 July. Counting of votes and the declaration of results will take place on 20 July.
The BJP is banking on the support of parties like TRS, YSR Congress and two factions of the AIADMK. It feels discussions with the BJD can also be fruitful.
(Source: The Times of India)
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