1. Sushma Swaraj Hopeful of China’s Support for India’s NSG Bid
On 19 June, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj sounded hopeful of India’s entry to the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) by the end of 2016, reported The Indian Express.
I think that there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become the member of the NSG this year.Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister
According to the report, Swaraj pointed out that instead of opposing India’s entry to NSG, China is willing to discuss conditions and procedures.
Following Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar’s visit to China between 16-17 June, to discuss India’s NSG membership, Prime Minister Modi will meet the Chinese President Xi Jinping on 23 June and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders’ meeting in China.
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2. Went to the Event for My Friend, Was Not Gatecrashing: Vijay Mallya
Vijay Mallya arrived for a book launch at the London School of Economics (LSE) on Thursday. His presence kicked off a social media frenzy for the event was also attended by the Indian High Commissioner, Navtej Sarna, reported The Times of India. The launch was of socialite Suhel Seth’s new book, reportedly.
Vijay Mallya declared that he did not gatecrash the event.
I went to the event for my friend, the author. I did not gatecrash.Vijay Mallya
The Ministry of External Affairs also issued a public statement on this saying:
The list of invitations for the LSE event was determined by LSE. They have written to the high commissioner that Mallya was not on their list. They have also said that the event was advertised widely through social media and attendees were not required to register in advance. Mallya was certainly not an invitee to the reception at the high commission for which the invitations were issued by the high commission, and was not present.
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3. Pistols and Cartridges Found at the College of Bihar Toppers
A raid carried out by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Bihar found pistols and cartridges in Bishun Rai College, the institution of the two class 12 toppers from the state, Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha.
The ammunition was found in the cupboard of the former principal, Bacha Rai. Accused of being the kingpin in the toppers scam, Rai was arrested on 11 June.
In the raid on Sunday, SIT obtained a pistol and five live rounds from Rai’s office. Additionally, on Friday gold of worth Rs 20 lakh had also been obtained from his residence following which he was sent on a two day SIT remand on Friday.
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4. Sushma Swaraj Claims 39 Indians Abducted by ISIS in 2014 Are Still Alive
The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the 39 Indians who were abducted by the ISIS in 2014, are still alive and that efforts are underway to get them released. One of the captives include Judith D’Souza, an aid worker from Kolkata.
D’Souza was allegedly abducted by militants on 9 June. Swaraj commented on the issue and said:
We are trying our best. The way we are going ahead, I think it will be resolved soon.
Swaraj added that it was her responsibility to find the missing Indians and she will not shy away from it.
Read more on The Quint.
5. Many Dread List of Loan Defaulters by Rajan at End of Term
Raghuram Rajan may compile a list of wilful loan defaulters before he leaves office as the Chairman of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in September, according to The Telegraph.
On 19 June, Rajan claimed that he is open to tidy up finances of banks which are over-burdened by unpaid loans.
In an interview with NDTV on 7 June, Rajan had hinted on the possibility of a list which would name loan defaulters.
We will make the list of wilful defaulters public. The list is being drawn up and we hope we will be able to put it on a website where everyone can see it.Raghuram Rajan to NDTV
In an official statement on Saturday, Rajan said he will not be seeking a second term as the RBI Chief and instead return to academia, disappointing many of his supporters.
Read more on The Quint.
6. Baba Ramdev Kicks Off Pre-World Yoga Day Event
Ahead of the World Yoga Day on 21 June, Baba Ramdev performed Yoga at Rajpath in Delhi, reported The Indan Express.
The event took place on Sunday evening as Ramdev held a Yoga camp for several participants having collected behind Rashtrapati Bhawan. The crowd was also treated to music by Kailash Kher.
Few BJP leaders accompanied Ramdev onstage. These included Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu and MPs Manoj Tiwari, Babul Supriyo and Meenakshi Lekhi.
Last year’s event on World Yoga Day was conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unlike this year when Ramdev-led Yoga was supplement by Kher’s music.
Read more on The Quint.
7. Following Jo Cox’ Murder, UK Parliament to Hire Social Media Investigator
The British Parliament in considering hiring a social media investigator to keep an eye out on virtual “fanatics”, intending harm to Member of Parliaments, The Telegraph reported. This development comes in the wake of the murder of MP Jo Cox.
Cox was shot and stabbed when she stepped in to contain an altercation between two men. An eyewitness said one of the men was fighting with Cox, following which a gun went off twice.
After stabbing Cox, he stabbed a 77-year-old man who tried to intervene. A BBC report says an eyewitness heard the shooter shout, “put Britain first” twice before he attacked.
Read more on The Quint.
8. Bullet Train to Cover the Distance Between Varanasi and Delhi in Over Two Hours
Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls in 2017, the BJP government is looking to fast-track work on a bullet train between Varanasi and New Delhi, reports The Times of India. This will be the second bullet train of its kind, after its predecessor that runs along the Mumbai-Ahemdabad corridor.
The train will follow a route via Lucknow, Aligarh, Agra and Kanpur, to reach it’s destination, Varanasi, which is also Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency.
It aims to cover a distance of 782 km within a duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes. The preliminary cost for the project is estimated at Rs 43,000 crore.
9. Don’t Give Up, Stay and Fight: PM Cameron to Voters
Struggling to fight against leaving the European Union (EU) following the referendum on 23 June, British Prime Minister David Cameron implored the voters to “stay and fight”, reported The Daily Mail. Leaving the EU would be a “tragedy”, cited the Prime Minister.
If we choose to leave, we can leave, but let’s be clear if we do leave we are walking out the door, we are quitting, we are giving up on this organisation which even if we leave will have a huge effect on our lives, our children, on our opportunities, on our businesses. I don’t think Britain at the end is a quitter. I think we stay and fight. That is what we should do. That is what made our country great and that’s how it will be great in the future.David Cameron
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