Joint statement condemns ‘state-sponsored terrorism’
India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday agreed to set up a multi-billion dollar fund to invest in Indian infrastructure projects as well as cooperate in space technology and nuclear energy. Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that the fund would aim to raise around $75 billion to build railways, ports and roads. Other officials said that the two countries would further cooperate in the producing military equipment and developing strategic petroleum reserves. Meanwhile, a joint statement by both countries condemned “state-sponsored terrorism” and rejected “extremism and any link between religion and terrorism”. The statement, seen as a veiled reference to Pakistan, was issued after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi, who completed a two-day trip to the Arab federation on Monday, also addressed a crowd of around 40,000 Indians at a stadium in Dubai.
Udhampur militant to undergo lie-detector test
A special National Investigation Agency court on Monday granted permission for a lie-detector test to be conducted on Mohammad Naved, the militant captured by security forces after an attack in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month. The prosecuting agency had told the court that the polygraph test was necessary as Naved was frequently changing his statements while being interrogated by NIA officers. The militant gave his consent to undergo the test before the court. The suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba fighter has been charged for the attack on a Border Security Force convoy that killed two security personnel.
Pakistan summons Indian envoy over ceasefire violations
India’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan was summoned by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday to explained the alleged ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry said that it had lodged a protest against “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by Indian troops in the Kotli sector, adding that it had asked for a complete investigation into the alleged incident. he move came a day after New Delhi summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit to lodge a similar protest. The increase in border violence has come days ahead of talks between the National Security Advisers of both countries.
FTII students demand meeting with Jaitley
Students from the Film and Television Institute of India protesting against the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairperson of the training school demanded a formal meeting with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley to discuss the crisis. They have been on strike since June 12. The demand came after a demonstration where the students formed a chain around FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe. Some of the students were injured after police forcibly dispersed the protest.
Monsoon 10% below normal, says Met department
The Indian Meteorological Department on Monday said that the annual monsoon is currently 10% below normal levels. While a deficit of 10% or more for the entire season is considered a drought, the Department said that rain levels were also 2% higher than the level predicted at the start of the season. IMD officials said that the lack of rainfall was due to a strengthening El Nino weather pattern. Meanwhile, private weather forecaster Skymet said that it would continue to predict a normal monsoon for India. In June, former Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen had said that a drought in the country would be “a cause for worry” due to its effect on agriculture. However, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley later sought to allay fears of a crop shortage, saying that the monsoon’s impact on food-grain production would not be very significant.
India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday agreed to set up a multi-billion dollar fund to invest in Indian infrastructure projects as well as cooperate in space technology and nuclear energy. Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that the fund would aim to raise around $75 billion to build railways, ports and roads. Other officials said that the two countries would further cooperate in the producing military equipment and developing strategic petroleum reserves. Meanwhile, a joint statement by both countries condemned “state-sponsored terrorism” and rejected “extremism and any link between religion and terrorism”. The statement, seen as a veiled reference to Pakistan, was issued after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi, who completed a two-day trip to the Arab federation on Monday, also addressed a crowd of around 40,000 Indians at a stadium in Dubai.
Udhampur militant to undergo lie-detector test
A special National Investigation Agency court on Monday granted permission for a lie-detector test to be conducted on Mohammad Naved, the militant captured by security forces after an attack in the Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month. The prosecuting agency had told the court that the polygraph test was necessary as Naved was frequently changing his statements while being interrogated by NIA officers. The militant gave his consent to undergo the test before the court. The suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba fighter has been charged for the attack on a Border Security Force convoy that killed two security personnel.
Pakistan summons Indian envoy over ceasefire violations
India’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan was summoned by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday to explained the alleged ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry said that it had lodged a protest against “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by Indian troops in the Kotli sector, adding that it had asked for a complete investigation into the alleged incident. he move came a day after New Delhi summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit to lodge a similar protest. The increase in border violence has come days ahead of talks between the National Security Advisers of both countries.
FTII students demand meeting with Jaitley
Students from the Film and Television Institute of India protesting against the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairperson of the training school demanded a formal meeting with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley to discuss the crisis. They have been on strike since June 12. The demand came after a demonstration where the students formed a chain around FTII Director Prashant Pathrabe. Some of the students were injured after police forcibly dispersed the protest.
Monsoon 10% below normal, says Met department
The Indian Meteorological Department on Monday said that the annual monsoon is currently 10% below normal levels. While a deficit of 10% or more for the entire season is considered a drought, the Department said that rain levels were also 2% higher than the level predicted at the start of the season. IMD officials said that the lack of rainfall was due to a strengthening El Nino weather pattern. Meanwhile, private weather forecaster Skymet said that it would continue to predict a normal monsoon for India. In June, former Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen had said that a drought in the country would be “a cause for worry” due to its effect on agriculture. However, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley later sought to allay fears of a crop shortage, saying that the monsoon’s impact on food-grain production would not be very significant.
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